President Donald Trumps's economic adviser Gary Cohn called out the POTUS on Friday for not properly denouncing white nationalism following the protests that turned violent in Charlottesville, Virginia. Though he stood beside Trump during his controversial statements following the white nationalist protests, according to The Washington Post, he said that he's since been facing "enormous pressure" to resign.
Cohn, the director of the White House National Economic Council who is also Jewish, is reportedly upset about Trump's comments on the protests in Charlottesville —particularly when the president attributed the violence to "many sides"rather than outright condemning the white nationalists, neo-nazis and so-called alt-right groups involved.
"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," Coh said during an interview with The Financial Times.
Cohn said that many of his colleagues have urged him to stay, while others have told him to resign. But, according to the White House on Thursday, Cohn isn't planning on leaving anytime soon and feels it is his "duty" to "voice [his] distress" over the situation post-Charlottesville.
"As a patriotic American, I am reluctant to leave my post… because I feel a duty to fulfill my commitment to work on behalf of the American people," he said. "But I also feel compelled to voice my distress over the events of the last two weeks."
Cohn's comments couldn't have come at a more pivotal time, as the Washington Post noted, with his nomination as chairman of the Federal Reserve on the line. If he were to grab the position it'd make him the world's most powerful central banker. However, if Trump (who is frequently preoccupied with the loyalty of those in his circle) decides to oust him, or if Cohn decides to part ways with the administration over this deeply personal issue, it will certainly affect the president's economic policy plans.
