In a letter posted to Twitter on Thursday, Elaine Chao, secretary of transportation under President Donald Trump, announced her resignation specifically citing the storming of the Capitol building on Wednesday.
“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 am sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside.”
Chao is the wife of Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), who reportedly agreed with her that her resignation was “the right thing to do.”
Chao’s resignation comes at the same time national security adviser under Trump, Robert C. O’Brien, voiced concerns in the wake of the riots, but as of now has decided to stay.
Former acting chief of staff under Trump, Mick Mulvaney, has been vocally supportive of those officials who choose to resign, but also has explained why some may not. “Those who choose to stay, and I have talked with some of them, are choosing to stay because they’re worried the president might put someone worse in,” he said.
