Walmart’s CEO on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trump’s delay in condemning white nationalists — saying he missed a critical opportunity to help bring our country together on Saturday — but will not join four other corporate executives…
Walmart’s CEO on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trump’s delay in condemning white nationalists — saying he „missed a critical opportunity to help bring our country together“ on Saturday — but will not join four other corporate executives in quitting the president’s manufacturing advisory council.
„Respect for the individual is one of our core beliefs at Walmart, “ Doug McMillon told employees in a statement posted Monday on the company’s website.
„And the role we play in communities around the country to build a more diverse and inclusive society is more critical than ever as the tragic events in Charlottesville over the weekend painfully reminded us.
„Our prayers are with the victims and their families.
„As we watched the events and the response from President Trump over the weekend, we too felt that he missed a critical opportunity to help bring our country together by unequivocally rejecting the appalling actions of white supremacists, “ McMillon said.
„His remarks today were a step in the right direction and we need that clarity and consistency in the future, “ he added, referring to the president’s stronger condemnation of the groups on Monday.
McMillon, who heads the world’s largest employer, became the fourth corporate CEO to rip Trump’s initial comments after Saturday’s racial violence in Charlottesville that killed a local woman and injured 19 others.
A fourth executive — Scott Paul, president of the Alliance for American Manufacturing in Washington, said on Twitter that he was leaving the White House’s American Manufacturing Council.
On Monday, three CEOs — Kenneth Frazier of Merck, Kevin Plank of Under Armour and Brian Krzanich of Intel — resigned from the council.
Trump created the panel in January to seek advice on creating jobs and economic development.
The president ripped the departing executives as „grandstanders“ on Twitter, saying that „for every CEO that drops out of the manufacturing council, I have many to take their place.“
On Monday, he strongly declared that „racism is evil“ and condemned the neo-Nazis, KKK and other white supremacist groups behind Saturday’s rally over the removal of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s statute from a downtown Charlottesville park.
„To anyone who acted criminally in this weekend’s racist violence, you will be held fully accountable, “ Trump said Monday. „Justice will be delivered.“
His Saturday comments were widely bashed across the political spectrum for being delayed and for blaming the „egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence“ on „many sides, on many sides.“
The violence killed Heather Heyer, 32, of Charlottesville, and injured 19 others when a car mowed allegedly driven by James Alex Fields Jr., 20, of Maumee, Ohio, rammed a crowd in the city’s mall area.
Fields faces second-degree murder charges and other offenses stemming from the attack. He is being held in jail without bond.
However, despite McMillon’s rebuke, a Walmart spokesman told The New York Times that he would remain on the council.
McMillion said in the memo that Walmart „should stay engaged to try to influence decisions in a positive way and help bring people together.“
The company, based in Bentonville, Ark., has 2.3 million employees worldwide, according to its website, including 1.5 million in the United States.
„Our country is facing some very difficult issues that require our elected officials, business leaders and community-based organizations to work together, “ McMillon said.
„Representing a company with the largest and one of the most diverse groups of associates in the U. S., and an even more diverse customer base of tens of millions of customers, we believe we should stay engaged to try to influence decisions in a positive way and help bring people together.
„I will continue to strongly advocate on behalf of our associates and customers, and urge our elected officials to do their part to promote a more just, tolerant and diverse society, “ he said.
