Uber CEO Steps Down From Trump Economic Advisory Council

Travis Kalanick, CEO of Uber, speaks at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2016 during the World Economic Forum 2016 Summer Davos in Tianjin, China, 26 June 2016. What's a premier exponent of globalization to d... Travis Kalanick, CEO of Uber, speaks at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2016 during the World Economic Forum 2016 Summer Davos in Tianjin, China, 26 June 2016. What's a premier exponent of globalization to do after Britain's vote to exit the European Union? In the case of the World Economic Forum, arrange a panel discussion. Responses to the British referendum at the start of a three-day forum event in China on Sunday (26 June 2016) ranged from lingering shock to analytical detachment and a degree of indifference, given the heft of the Chinese economy and its limited trade with Britain. Klaus Schwab, the German economist who is the forum's founder, didn't respond to a reporter's question about the British vote. With the topic top of mind for many, a special panel titled "After the Brexit" was added Sunday morning to a program that had been weeks in the planning. Adrian Monck, a member of the forum's executive committee, set the tone, saying that as a British passport holder and possible ex-EU passport holder, he was "still coming to terms with the emotional impact of 'Brexit'." MORE LESS
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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

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