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Gary Cohn, President Donald Trump's chief economic adviser, was said to have drafted a letter of resignation over the president's response to the Aug. 12 violent protests in Charlottesville, Virginia.
According to two sources at the New York Times, Cohn was reportedly so disturbed by Trump's statements after the Charlottesville protests that he seriously considered quitting his post at the White House.
Cohn's response to Charlottesville
Cohn told the Financial Times on Thursday that Trump's response to Charlottesville was unacceptable.
"Citizens standing up for equality and freedom can never be equated with white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and the KKK," Cohn said. "I believe 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. As a Jewish American, I will not allow neo-Nazis ranting 'Jews will not replace us' to cause this Jew to leave his job."
Cohn said he was torn after the Charlottesville incident on whether or not to stay at the White House in an advisory capacity. The decision to stay, according to Cohn, was more a duty of obligation to the American people than anything else.
"I am reluctant to leave my post as director of the National Economic Council because I feel a duty to fulfill my commitment to work on behalf of the American people," Cohn admitted. "But I also feel compelled to voice my distress over the events of the last two weeks."
Cohn was reportedly "disgusted" and "appalled" by Trump's comments that "both sides" were responsible for the violence in Charlottesville.
Thoughts of quitting
The New York Times alleged that two people close to Cohn reported that he "seriously considered resigning" and even "drafted a letter of resignation."
The sources said that Cohn's circle of friends and family "told him he needed to think seriously about departing" from the White House in the immediate days following Trump's comments on Charlottesville.
Cohn makes $30,000 a year as Trump's director of the National Economic Council. He earned a combined salary and bonus of $7.3 million as Goldman Sachs COO in 2016.
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Sarah Taylor
Sarah is a former staff writer for TheBlaze, and a former managing editor and producer at TMZ. She resides in Delaware with her family. You can reach her via Twitter at @thesarahdtaylor.
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