White House official Gary Cohn, who is Jewish, said President Trump “must do better” in condemning neo-Nazis and white supremacists, according to the Financial Times.
“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 paper.
The former Goldman Sachs president said he faced “enormous pressure” to resign after the way Trump responded to the tragic events that occurred in Charlottesville when violence erupted at a white supremacy rally earlier this month. Three people died and dozens were injured. Despite Trump initially saying that many sides were to blame, Cohn isn’t stepping down.
“I have come under enormous pressure both to resign and to remain in my current position,” he said. “As a patriotic American, I am reluctant to leave my post.”
Cohn told the Times that he won’t step down because he feels a “duty” to fulfill his “commitment to work on behalf of the American people.”
However, the former top banker clearly didn’t appreciate Trump’s response, which was widely criticized by politicians and pundits on both sides of the political aisle.
“Citizens standing up for equality and freedom can never be equated with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK,” he said. “As a Jewish American, I will not allow neo-Nazis ranting ‘Jews will not replace us’ to cause this Jew to leave his job. I feel deep empathy for all who have been targeted by these hate groups. We must all unite together against them.”
Trump has condemned the KKK, neo-Nazis and white supremacists since his initial statements, but Cohn told the Times that he has urged the administration to be harder on the groups.