Under Armour CEO: Trump Is 'a Real Asset for the Country' 'He wants to build things. He wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive,' Kevin Plank said.
By Dennis Green
This story originally appeared on Business Insider
Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank didn't hold back his praise for President Donald Trump in an interview with CNBC's "Fast Money Halftime Report" on Tuesday.
"To have such a pro-business president is something that is a real asset for the country," Plank said. "People can really grab that opportunity."
He was responding to a question from CNBC anchor Scott Wapner on the CEO's involvement in Trump's Manufacturing Jobs Initiative.
Trump has gained a reputation as a business-friendly president in his short tenure in the Oval Office. He signed an executive order directing departments and agencies to identify two regulations to repeal for every new regulation proposed, and he met with a council of business leaders, including Plank, to discuss roadblocks to business growth. Trump is also expected to roll back Wall Street regulations, including Dodd-Frank.
"He wants to build things. He wants to make bold decisions and be really decisive," Plank said, alluding to Trump's plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and pass a large infrastructure improvement bill.
"I'm a big fan of people that operate in the world of 'publish and iterate' vs. 'think, think, think, think, think,'" Plank said. "So there's a lot that I respect there."
In a statement released Wednesday, Under Armour clarified Plank's remarks:
At Under Armour, our culture has always been about optimism, teamwork and unity. We have engaged with both the prior and the current administrations in advocating on business issues that we believe are in the best interests of our consumers, teammates and shareholders. Kevin Plank was recently invited at the request of the President of the United States, to join the American Manufacturing Council as part of a distinguished group of business leaders. He joined CEOs from companies such as Dow Chemical, Dell, Ford, GE and Tesla, among others to begin an important dialogue around creating jobs in America. We believe it is important for Under Armour to be a part of that discussion.
We have always been committed to developing innovative ways to support and invest in American jobs and manufacturing. For years, Under Armour has had a long-term strategy for domestic manufacturing and we recently launched our first women's collection made in our hometown of Baltimore, MD. We are incredibly proud of this important first step in the evolution of creating more jobs at home.
We engage in policy, not politics. We believe in advocating for fair trade, an inclusive immigration policy that welcomes the best and the brightest and those seeking opportunity in the great tradition of our country and tax reform that drives hiring to help create new jobs globally, across America and in Baltimore.
We have teammates from different religions, races, nationalities, genders and sexual orientations; different ages, life experiences and opinions. This is the core of our company. At Under Armour, our diversity is our strength, and we will continue to advocate for policies that Protect Our House, our business, our team and our community.
