Elon Musk has announced that he quit two of Donald Trump's business advisory councils following the US president's decision to withdraw the country from the Paris Agreement on climate change.
The Tesla chief had promised on Twitter that his hand would be forced if Trump confirmed that he was ditching the 2014 accord yesterday. Following Trump's press conference, he once again took to the social media platform to reveal: "Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world."
United States President Donald J. Trump makes a statement regarding the Paris Accord in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington, DC. Photo by Ron Sachs/CNP/ABACAPRESS.COM
"It's the last resort, you'll always try and see if there's other work that that employee can do. Elon Musk quits Trump advisory role US corporations disheartened by their president's decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement...
Am departing presidential councils. Climate change is real. Leaving Paris is not good for America or the world.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2017
Under Paris deal, China committed to produce as much clean electricity by 2030 as the US does from all sources today https://t.co/F8Ppr2o7Rl
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 1, 2017
According to Business Insider, Musk had used his access to the president to push for a carbon tax. It is also thought that his White House ties would have benefitted his underground Los Angeles infrastructure project.
The tech billionaire had opted to continue holding his controversial place on a White House advisory council following the furore surrounding Trump's attempted immigration ban early into his presidency, but the severing of ties with other major nations on climate change has proved to be a step too far.
Trump told the press on Thursday:
"We're getting out, but we will start to negotiate - and we will see if we can make a deal that's fair."
Musk had taken to Twitter on Wednesday night to reveal he'd done everything in his power to keep the country in the 2016 accord, but was unsure which way Trump would come down at his White House rose garden press conference...
Don't know which way Paris will go, but I've done all I can to advise directly to POTUS, through others in WH & via councils, that we remain
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2017
Will have no choice but to depart councils in that case
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2017
Walt Disney Company CEO Robert Iger. Picture by: Evan Agostini/AP/Press Association Images
Disney's Robert Iger also quit the business advisory panel on foot of the announcement.
As a matter of principle, I've resigned from the President's Council over the #ParisAgreement withdrawal.
— Robert Iger (@RobertIger) June 1, 2017
Goldman Sachs chief executive Lloyd Blankfein also condemned the move on Twitter...
Today's decision is a setback for the environment and for the U.S.'s leadership position in the world. #ParisAgreement
— Lloyd Blankfein (@lloydblankfein) June 1, 2017
Bloomberg has reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook phoned the White House earlier this week to urge Trump not to withdraw from the deal.
