Here's Everyone Who Is Quitting The Trump Administration
Riots took over the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021, as supporters of President Donald Trump surrounded and invaded the building. The mob gathered in response to Trump's false claims that the presidential election was stolen by Democrats. Jan. 6 was a significant day, according to The Independent, as it marked the time when Vice President Mike Pence symbolically counted the electoral college ballots and declared the win for President-elect Joe Biden.
The rioting was a harrowing event and the U.S. Capitol police had the difficult job of trying to stop the mob. Four people died, according to CNN, tear gas was used, and several pipe bombs were found on site but thankfully were detonated safely. With such a traumatizing day, many who were employed within the Trump administration wound up rethinking their jobs. In fact, several people who were major members within Trump's team submitted their resignations on the evening of Jan. 6, after the riots in the U.S. Capitol building quieted. Here's who's leaving.
Members of Trump's administration say they were 'deeply disturbed' by what they saw
Several members of Donald Trump's administration quit on Jan. 6, 2021, shortly after the riots in Washington, D.C. broke out. Matt Pottinger resigned, who served as Trump's deputy national security advisor, according to The Guardian. In addition, Mick Mulvaney, who was the special envoy to Northern Ireland, resigned as well as Ryan Tully, who worked as a "top White House adviser on Russia," per the outlet.
But this isn't the end of the list. Sarah Matthews, who served as deputy press secretary, also resigned, as did Stephanie Grisham (pictured), who worked as Melania Trump's chief of staff, according to The Independent. Anna Cristina "Rickie" Niceta, who worked as the White House's social secretary, also quit. All three members of Trump's administration offered their resignation on the night of the riots.
Matthews summed up her feelings in a statement, where she said: "I was honored to serve in the Trump administration and proud of the policies we enacted. I was deeply disturbed by what I saw today. I'll be stepping down from my role, effective immediately. Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power," according to The Independent.
After witnessing the frightening actions of the mob at the U.S. Capitol, it makes sense that people might want to get away from there!
Elaine Chao makes the surprising decision to step down
The mass departure from the White House continues. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced on Jan. 7, 2021 that she's leaving her position, according to The Washington Post. Chao, who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, marks the first Cabinet person to step down.
Chao explained her decision in a statement she shared on Twitter. "Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed," she wrote. "As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside."
In addition to Chao, Tyler Goodspeed, who served as the "acting chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers" is leaving, according to The Daily Beast, and broke the news of his resignation on Jan. 7, 2021.
On the same day, Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband announced that he will step down from the Department of Justice, according to The Daily Beast. The outlet notes that it's unclear if Dreiband's decision comes as a result of the riots at the Capitol or if his decision is motivated by other factors. Talk about a major upheaval!
Betsy DeVos is the second cabinet member to resign
President Donald Trump's controversial Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced her resignation on Jan. 7, 2021, making her the second member of President Trump's cabinet to resign after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. Her decision follows that of Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
In her resignation letter, DeVos wrote (via The Washington Post), "We should be highlighting and celebrating your Administration's many accomplishments on behalf of the American people. Instead, we are left to clean up the mess caused by violent protestors overrunning the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to undermine the people's business. That behavior was unconscionable for our country. There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me."
The day before her resignation, the former education secretary took to Twitter to release a statement in response to the riots on the Capitol, writing, "The peaceful transfer of power is what separates American representative Democracy from banana republics."
Her resignation was met with criticism from education leaders, including Becky Pringle, the president of National Education Association, who tweeted: "Her complicity, cowardice, and complete incompetence will be her legacy. #DoYourJob" Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers, also issued a statement on behalf of the entire organization, tweeting: "#GoodRiddance".