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Disney CEO refuses shareholder calls to step down from Trump advisory council

DENVER, Co. — Despite several calls from shareholders and outside organizations, Walt Disney World CEO Bob Iger said Wednesday that he would not resign from his position on President Donald Trump’s advisory council.

The refusal came during Disney’s annual shareholders meeting in Denver.

Calling the position a “privileged opportunity,” Iger argued that his decision wasn’t a political endorsement of the president’s policies.

He used his love for the hit Broadway musical “Hamilton” to make the point.

“There’s a song in it where one of the characters sings, ‘I want to be in the room where it happens,’” Iger said. “I think there’s an opportunity when you’re in the room where it happens to express opinions that I believe will be in the best interest of this company and its shareholders.”

Some shareholders, though, worried that a Disney connection to the Trump administration could damage the company’s bottom line.

“When you, as a very powerful individual, and all 11 board members don’t speak truth to power, it allows other folks to step in and fill that vacuum with evil, ugly, angry, hateful language,” Phillip B. Jones said.

Iger isn’t the first company head to face backlash for accepting a spot on Trump’s advisory council.

After a heated response on social media, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick resigned from the council.

Jennifer Epps-Addison, with the Center for Popular Democracy, argued that if Iger remained, it would have very real, and negative, impacts on Disney.

“We believe, like with Uber, thousands of families who would have gone on their summer vacation, who would have supported our movies, who would have been proud brand ambassadors, will make a different decision,” she said.

Len Kiese

Len Kiese

I am extremely excited to call Central Florida home.