The CEO of Uber has announced to his employees that he will step down from President Donald Trump’s economic advisory council, according to an email obtained by TPM Thursday.
The New York Times first reported Thursday afternoon that Travis Kalanick sent an email to Uber employees announcing his resignation from the council.
“Earlier today I spoke briefly with the president about the immigration executive order and its issues for our community,” Kalanick wrote. “I also let him know that I would not be able to participate on his economic council. Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the president or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that.”
Uber came under fire after it lifted surge pricing for customers at JFK Airport on Saturday, while the New York Taxi Workers Alliance was on strike from the airport in protest of Trump’s immigration executive order. An angry trend–#DeleteUber–took off in response.
Read Uber CEO Travis Kalanick’s full email to employees below:
Dear Team,
Earlier today I spoke briefly with the President about the immigration executive order and its issues for our community. I also let him know that I would not be able to participate on his economic council. Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the President or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that.
I spent a lot of time thinking about this and mapping it to our values. There are a couple that are particularly relevant:
Inside Out – The implicit assumption that Uber (or I) was somehow endorsing the Administration’s agenda has created a perception-reality gap between who people think we are, and who we actually are.
Just Change – We must believe that the actions we take ultimately move the ball forward. There are many ways we will continue to advocate for just change on immigration but staying on the council was going to get in the way of that. The executive order is hurting many people in communities all across America. Families are being separated, people are stranded overseas and there’s a growing fear the U.S. is no longer a place that welcomes immigrants.
Immigration and openness to refugees is an important part of our country’s success and quite honestly to Uber’s. I am incredibly proud to work directly with people like Thuan and Emil, both of whom were refugees who came here to build a better life for themselves. I know it has been a tough week for many of you and your families, as well as many thousands of drivers whose stories are heartfelt and heart-wrenching.
Please know, your questions and stories on Tuesday, along with what I heard from drivers, have kept me resilient and reminded me of one of our most essential cultural values, Be Yourself. We will fight for the rights of immigrants in our communities so that each of us can be who we are with optimism and hope for the future.
Travis
Was this a genuine reflection on his part, or was the #DeleteUber boycott starting to affect the bottom line?
Inquiring minds want to know…
He had no option. His US client base was simply evaporating. I would say that millions will now stick with Lyft and Via, companies that really came through for their drivers and their urban customers.
Good point and I hadn’t considered that. Whatever one thinks of Uber and its policies, I would not be surprised to see many competent individuals resign from the cabinet or advisory posts. Folks who are not in desperate need of a job will quickly get tired of working with/for “the crazies.”
Guess he remembered what eventually happened to the Vichy collaborators.
Decent Travis. Now next time, THINK before you leap. You really did look like a jerk.