First female minister resigns after chaos in the Capitol
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“I was forced to rethink today”
After storming the Capitol, there was disbelief and consternation – even among the Republicans, who have so far loyally stood by Trump. Some Senators have now clearly turned their backs, including Mitch McConnell and Kelly Loeffler.
The first female cabinet minister of US President Donald Trump resigned after the riots in Washington. Other US government employees had previously resigned.
US-Transport Minister Elaine Chao resigns after the violent riots on and in the Capitol in Washington. She announced the move on Thursday on Twitter. She is the highest-ranking member to date of the US administration under President Donald Trump, who is stepping down after what happened on Wednesday.
The violent attack on the congress building has shaken them “in a way” that “I just can’t get rid of”. Her ministry will continue to work with President-elect Joe Biden, she wrote. Biden has nominated former Mayor Pete Buttigieg as transport minister-designate.
Previously, leading officials in the US government had left Trump. Mick Mulvaney, ex-chief of staff of the president, announced his resignation on CNBC. Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger and First Lady Melania Trump’s spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham have also resigned.
Mulvaney had been special envoy for Northern Ireland since March last year, but after the storm on the Capitol in Washington, he decided to resign. “I called (US Secretary of State) Mike Pompeo last night and let him know I was stepping down,” Mulvaney said. “I can’t do that, I can’t stay.”
Mulvaney worked for the government to make the US great again, for example through tax cuts. The president has a list of achievements to be proud of. “But all of that was lost yesterday,” said Mulvaney.
He added that Trump was no longer who he was eight months ago. In March 2020 Trump dismissed Mulvaney as chief of staff and made him special envoy for Northern Ireland – a kind of consolation prize. Mulvaney had previously admitted that military aid to Ukraine had been frozen on the orders of the President.
The Deputy National Security Advisor to the Presidential Office, Matt Pottinger, has also resigned in the wake of the riots, as reported by several US media. National security advisor Robert O’Brien is also considering resigning, insiders told Reuters.
Ryan Tully, Trump’s leading advisor on Russia policy, no longer works for the president, according to government circles. A government official told Reuters that more resignations from members of the National Security Council are to be expected. “Those who stay, and I have spoken to some, only do so because they fear that the president might put someone worse in their place,” Mulvaney said last.