Elon Musk leaving Trump advisory councils following Paris agreement withdrawal
Elon Musk is making good on his promise to leave President Trumps White House advisory councils, he said today on Twitter. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO promised Wednesday he would step down from his official advisory roles with the administration should Trump go through with his plan to leave the Paris Climate Accord. Trump announced the U.S. would be removing itself form the agreement on Thursday.
Musk cited climate change and the downsides of leaving the Paris agreement both for the world and for the U.S. as his reasoning. The prolific tech entrepreneur said previously that he has attempted to convince the President to support of the Paris agreement, through his council involvement and through White House connections.
Prior to this decision, Musk served on Trumps economic advisory board, as well as his manufacturing jobs initiative council. Hes received criticism from supporters for his close relationship with the administration in the past, particularly in the face of Trumps executive order on immigration from Muslim-majority countries, and subsequent doubling down on that position by the White House.
Musk held fast even following Uber CEO Travis Kalanicks departure from Trumps economic advisory council, when Kalanick left following the issuance of the immigration order. Musk noted then that he believed engaging on critical issues [would] on balance serve the greater good as his reasoning for sticking with the council at the time.
Update The departures continue. Disney CEO Bob Iger is resigning from the presidents council as well, calling it a matter of principle:
