Cohn, the chairman of the National Economic Council, aired his disappointment with Trump’s reaction to a racist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12 that turned deadly.
"This administration can and must do better in consistently and unequivocally condemning these groups and do everything we can to heal the deep divisions that exist in our communities," Cohn told the Financial Times for a Friday story.
Cohn had long been rumored to have been upset since Trump's surprise press conference in Trump Tower on August 16, when Trump insisted "both sides" were to blame for the violence. The violence resulted in the death of one counter-protester, and indirectly led to the deaths of two state police officers on air patrol.
Cohn admitted the rumors were true and that he had come under outside pressure to resign.
| From his wife, among others, I understand. |
"I have come under enormous pressure both to resign and to remain in my current position," Cohn said. "As a patriotic American, I am reluctant to leave my post. But I also feel compelled to voice my distress over the events of the last two weeks. Citizens standing up for equality and freedom can never be equated with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK."Both Cohn and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, who is also Jewish, have come under criticism for remaining in Trump's administration. The Washington Post's columnist, Dana Milbank, even suggested last week the men were "court Jews."
Continues. I think Mr. Trump may be between a rock and a hard place with this.
He must surely understand that Cohn needs to go, but the publicity raging on about "White House Dysfunction" would be damaging.