Plank denounces Trump’s withdrawal from Paris climate accord

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said he is “disappointed” by President Donald Trump’s decision to leave the Paris Agreement. (File)

Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank spoke out against President Donald Trump’s decision to exit the Paris climate accord Friday, but he was silent on whether he would continue to serve on the president’s manufacturing advisory council.

“Climate change is real and must be taken seriously by our business community, our customers, our neighbors and our elected officials,” Plank wrote in a statement.

Plank is a member of Trump’s manufacturing council, created by the president to offer his advice on policy issues. But his statement did not say whether he plans to leave the group.

Following Trump’s decision to abandon the Paris agreement, Tesla’s Elon Musk announced that he’d leave the council. Disney CEO Robert Iger also said he will leave Trump’s business advisory council “as a matter of principle” after Trump’s withdrawal.

Plank was criticized by some of top athletes who have endorsement deals with the Baltimore-based sports apparel and footwear company, including Stephen Curry and Misty Copeland, after he called Trump a “real asset for the country.” He then took out a full-page advertisement in The Baltimore Sun, where he clarified his comments to distance himself from the president’s policies on immigration and his proposed travel ban affecting several mostly Muslim nations.

“We believe that immigration is a source of strength, diversity and innovation for global companies based in America like Under Armour,” he wrote.

Plank is not the only leader of a Maryland company on the manufacturing council. Lockheed Martin’s Marillyn Hewson is also on board, but declined a request to comment.