'I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism': Merck's CEO is resigning from Trump's manufacturing council
AP Photo/Evan Vucci
"America's leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry and group supremacy, which run counter to the American ideal that all people are created equal," Frazier said in a statement.
"As CEO of Merck and as a matter of personal conscience, I feel a responsibility to take a stand against intolerance and extremism."
Frazier is one of the few black CEOs of a major US corporation.
The resignation came after a weekend of violence at a white nationalist and neo-Nazi protest in Charlottesville, Virginia, in which the president did not explicitly condemn the actions of white supremacists.
Trump almost immediately fired back at Frazier, turning the conversation toward drug pricing.
Merck, a New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant, is a known for making Gardasil, the vaccine designed to protect against the sexually transmitted infection HPV, as well as the drug credited with helping former President Jimmy Carter get cancer-free.
Frazier had served on the president's American Manufacturing Council along with fellow pharmaceuctial CEO Alex Gorsky of Johnson & Johnson.
Read the full statement below:
Now that Ken Frazier of Merck Pharma has resigned from President's Manufacturing Council,he will have more time to LOWER RIPOFF DRUG PRICES!
- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 14, 2017
- Merck (@Merck) August 14, 2017
- Colon cancer rates are rising in young people. If you have two symptoms you should get a colonoscopy, a GI oncologist says.
- I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
- An Ambani disruption in OTT: At just ₹1 per day, you can now enjoy ad-free content on JioCinema
- Vegetable prices to remain high until June due to above-normal temperature
- RBI action on Kotak Mahindra Bank may restrain credit growth, profitability: S&P
- 'Vote and have free butter dosa': Bengaluru eateries do their bit to increase voter turnout
- Reliance gets thumbs-up from S&P, Fitch as strong earnings keep leverage in check
- Realme C65 5G with 5,000mAh battery, 120Hz display launched starting at ₹10,499
- JNK India IPO allotment date
- JioCinema New Plans
- Realme Narzo 70 Launched
- Apple Let Loose event
- Elon Musk Apology
- RIL cash flows
- Charlie Munger
- Feedbank IPO allotment
- Tata IPO allotment
- Most generous retirement plans
- Broadcom lays off
- Cibil Score vs Cibil Report
- Birla and Bajaj in top Richest
- Nestle Sept 2023 report
- India Equity Market