MN Manufacturing Giant Walks Away from Trump Council Amid Online Pressure

3M, Trump, Plane,
Image Credit: Preya Samsundar/Alpha News

MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — Several CEO’s have left President Donald Trump’s various panels in recent weeks following a tumultuous time in the country.

Now, the CEO of 3M has given into demands on social media to resign. Around 11:00 a.m., Inge Thulin announced that he has become the seventh member to resign from Trump’s manufacturing jobs council.

“Sustainability, diversity, and inclusion are my personal values and also fundamental to the 3M Vision. The past few months have provided me with an opportunity to reflect upon my commitment to these values,” Thulin said in a statement.  

“I joined the Manufacturing Jobs Initiative in January to advocate for policies that align with our values and encourage even stronger investment and job growth – in order to make the United States stronger, healthier and more prosperous for all people. After careful consideration, I believe the initiative is no longer an effective vehicle for 3M to advance these goals. As a result, today I am resigning from the Manufacturing Advisory Council.

At 3M, we will continue to champion an environment that supports sustainability, diversity and inclusion. I am committed to building a company that improves lives in every corner of the world.”

Thulin, who started with the company as an executive in 1979 before moving to role of CEO in 2012, had remained quiet on whether he would join several other CEO’s in leaving Trump’s initiative.

Six members of the White House’s Manufacturing Jobs Council have resigned after Trump’s remarks on the Charlottesville riots that left one woman dead. Seventeen members remain on the council.

Trump initially placed blame on both white supremacists and counter-protesters made up of groups such as Black Lives Matter and ANTIFA. Since those remarks, Trump has faced backlash from the media, Democrats, and his own party for his refusal to call out the KKK and Nazis as hate groups.

On Tuesday, Scott Paul, the CEO of Alliance for American Manufacturing became the fifth CEO to resign from Trump’s council since his initial remarks about Charlottesville.

Kenneth Frazier, the CEO of Merck & Co., Inc. and a prominent African-American in the business community became the first CEO to resign from council after Trump’s remarks stating, “America’s leaders must honor our fundamental values by clearly rejecting expressions of hatred, bigotry, and group supremacy,” CNN Money reports.

Since Frazier’s announcement, Kevin Plank, the CEO of Under Armour, Brian Krzanich, the CEO of Intel, Richard Tumka, and Thea Lee of the AFL-CIO have resigned.

Preya Samsundar

Preya Samsundar was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN. She graduated from the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities this Spring with a B.A. in Political Science and Sociology, with a minor in Strategic Communications. Preya has previously worked on several State Campaign Races.