Uber CEO Kalanick Resigns from Trump’s Advisory Council Following #DeleteUber Campaign

Uber CEO, Travis Kalanick, has recently decided to step down from President Trump’s economic advisory council, following approximately 200,000 app deletions in a span of six days. This substantial backlash sprung primarily from Uber’s decision to continue operations during a taxi strike that emerged in the wake of the infamous Trump immigration ban.

Protests exploded across the United States last week after the induction of the immigration ban that targeted a number of nations, with a notable demonstration taking place at the John F. Kennedy airport in New York. In solidarity with individuals who may have been affected by the ban, taxi unions declared a strike of their own. Uber, however, chose to continue its services, spurring the viral #DeleteUber campaign that has since put significant dent in the company’s public image. Uber subsequently announced the creation of a $3 million legal fund for its drivers potentially affected by the ban, in an attempt to repair some of the inflicted PR damage.

The company’s decision to continue operation was met with considerable internal dispute, with staff members accusing Uber of prioritizing profit over ethical principles. While there are those who believe Mr. Kalanick has been unfairly judged by the public- considering he was primarily assigned an economic advisors role under President Trump’s council – the storm of criticism remains overwhelming.

The tech community has strongly expressed its dissatisfaction with the immigration ban mainly due to the immense contribution of immigrants to American companies. It’s a significant fact that about 37 percent of Silicon Valley’s workforce are immigrants. According to a report by the Washington Examiner, nearly 74 percent of computer and mathematical workers between 25 and 44 years of age employed in Silicon Valley are foreign-born. Moreover, 51 percent of billion-dollar startups in the United States were founded by immigrants, bringing into sharper focus the tech sector’s resistance to the controversial ban.

The Trump administration’s policy of prioritizing employment for Americans – which could strongly impact the B-1 work visa tech companies depend on to source overseas talent – has placed even further strain on the relationship between the tech industry and politics. Despite the immense pressure, Kalanick maintains that having a seat at the table remains the most impactful way of making a difference, citing his belief in optimistic global partnerships in a recent blog post.

It’s worth mentioning that Travis Kalanick is not the only prominent tech figure associated with the Trump administration. Peter Thiel, a Facebook board member and prominent Trump supporter, donated over $1 million to the Trump campaign last year and is currently serving as an advisor to President Trump. This association, naturally, has sparked dissent among Facebook staff and executives, especially as the social media giant continues to grapple with the impact of fake news on the 2016 election.

This collision between politics and the tech sector appears to signify the outset of an intricate drama that is set to unfold over the coming years, with Travis Kalanick’s resignation serving as a notable first act.