Top Trump Official Criticizes Charlottesville Response

President Trump's top economic adviser became the first administration official to criticize him over his response to the hate-filled march in Charlottesville. Gary Cohn, the director of the National Economic Council, made his first public reaction to the events in an interview with 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," he told the paper.

Cohn, who was president of Goldman Sachs before joining the administration, told the paper that the president's response has led to people urging him to step down and stay.

"I have come under enormous pressure both to resign and to remain in my current position," he told the paper.

Trump's Chief Economic Adviser Says He Was Under Pressure To Resign

Members of his family, former business associates, and former classmates all urged him to step down in response to the president's remarks that equated the neo-Nazi marchers with those who were protesting their anti-Semitic and racist remarks.

Cohn tells the paper "as a Jewish American, I will not allow neo-Nazis ranting 'Jews will not replace us' to cause this Jew to leave his job."

He told the paper that he sees the arguments on both sides.

"I am reluctant to leave my post," he said. "But I also feel compelled to voice my distress over the events of the last two weeks."

READ THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE.

See Also: UN Warns US To Fight Racism After Charlottesville

Photo of Gary Cohn (standing all the way on the left) at a press conference at Trump Tower via Drew Angerer/Getty Images News/Getty Images