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Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini in a hearing televised by C-Span. Credit: C-Span
Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini in a hearing televised by C-SPAN. Credit: C-Span

Aetna CEO Mark Bertolini has joined a number of corporate leaders distancing themselves from President Donald J. Trump in the wake of the events in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Late Wednesday afternoon, Bertolini sent a memo to employees saying he is ā€œashamed of our president’s behavior and comments.ā€

The memo, first obtained by CNBC, was confirmed by an Aetna spokesman.

ā€œI strongly agree with the remarks of former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush who stated: ā€˜America must always reject racial bigotry, anti-Semitism and hatred of all forms,’ā€ Bertolini wrote. ā€œI am pleased that many other political leaders from both parties have expressed similarly strong statements – and I am ashamed of our President’s behavior and comments.ā€

ā€œWe can only remain great if we remain intolerant of hate,ā€ he added.

Bertolini’s commented as Trump’s relationship with the business community took a rocky turn after the president’s response to the violence in Charlottesville, Virginia over the weekend. White supremacists and counter-protesters clashed in the streets of the quaint college town, leaving one dead and dozens injured.

Trump said Tuesday ā€œboth sidesā€ deserved blame for the chaos.

Numerous business leaders have condemned the president’s comments. Several CEOs – including United Technologies Corp. CEO Greg Hayes – resigned from the president’s two business panels, leading Trump to disband them earlier Wednesday.

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