Economic adviser Gary Cohn calls on the Trump administration to 'do better' in condemning white supremacists

White House chief economic advisor Gary Cohn

(Image credit: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

last updated 25 August 2017

White House chief economic adviser Gary Cohn "seriously considered resigning" in the wake of President Trump's response to the Charlottesville, Virginia, white nationalist rally, the Financial Times reported Friday. Cohn, who is Jewish, told the Financial Times in his first public comments on the topic that he faced "enormous pressure" both to quit and to stay onboard after Trump blamed "both sides" for the rally's violence and suggested there were "very fine people" marching among the white supremacists.

Cohn said he ultimately decided to stay because he felt "a duty to fulfill my commitment to work on behalf of the American people." "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," Cohn said.

While Cohn decided against resigning, he said he also feels "compelled to voice my distress over the events of the last two weeks." "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 said.