By Aaron Miller-
Donald Trump’s deputy national security adviser, Matt Pottinger,(pictured) has resigned, and two other senior White House officials – the national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, and the deputy chief of staff, Chris Liddell – are also considering stepping down after a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building.
Six officials connected with Trump and his inner circle announced their departure, including members of Melania Trump’s team, after the deadly violence that occurred at Capitol Hill yesterday, where Congressmen met to certify Joe Biden’s presidential election victory in November.
Some officials have called for a second impeachment of Trump, ensuring he can’t run for office in the future.
Congress had been debating objections to the certification of Joe Biden when protesters gate crashed the scene, determined to obstruct the process.
Marc Short, Pence’s chief of staff, told journalists he had been banned from the White House by Trump after being blamed for advising Pence to ignore Trump’s demands for the vice president to overturn the election result.
“I just spoke with Vice President Pence. He is a genuinely fine and decent man,” he tweeted. “He exhibited courage today as he did at the Capitol on 9/11 as a Congressman. I am proud to serve with him.”
Two of the first lady’s top aides resigned on Wednesday night including Stephanie Grisham, a longtime Trump loyalist who previously served as White House press secretary. Anna Cristina Niceta, the White House social secretary, also resigned.
The deputy White House press secretary, Sarah Matthews, also announced her resignation, saying she was “deeply disturbed” by the storming of the Capitol.
“I was honoured to serve in the Trump administration and proud of the policies we enacted. As someone who worked in the halls of Congress I was deeply disturbed by what I saw today,” Matthews said in a statement. “I’ll be stepping down from my role, effective immediately. Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power.”
Screwed
An unnamed 2016 Trump official told Politico :He screwed his supporters, he screwed the country and now he’s screwed himself,” said a 2016 Trump campaign official, predicting his former boss would cease to remain a popular figure in GOP politics after Wednesday.
“Donald Trump caused this insurrection with lies and conspiracy theories about the election being rigged against him,” said Scott Jennings, a former aide to President George W. Bush who is close to the Trump White House. “The election was not stolen but this madness was fomented by the president and his top advisers.”