Donald Trump's Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf pleads with president to condemn violence amid mounting questions over whether cabinet will use 25th Amendment against him
President Donald Trump's acting Homeland Security chief Chad Wolf publicly pleaded with the president to condemn the violence after his supporters rampaged the Capitol Wednesday.
'What transpired yesterday was tragic and sickening,' Wolf wrote in a statement Thursday.
He said he would remain in his post 'to ensure the Department's focus remains on the serious threats facing our country and an orderly transition to President-elect Biden's DHS team.'
Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf publicly pleaded with President Donald Trump to condemn yesterday's violent siege of Capitol Hill by the president's supporters
Wolf implored the president and other elected officials to 'strongly condemn the violence that took place yesterday' in a statement that he tweeted
Trump held a rally on the ellipse where he encouraged supporters to march on Capitol Hill, misleading them into believing Congress could overturn the presidential election
A number of other Trump officials are jumping ship, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao.
The White House on Thursday withdrew the nomination for Wolf to be named permanent head of the Department of Homeland Security.
At first the move looked like it could be retribution for Wolf's statement, but CNN later reported that his nomination had been pulled Wednesday because no further action in the Senate was expected.
President-elect Joe Biden takes office on January 20 and the Senate is out of session until January 19, so no future Trump nominees will be considered.
'While I have consistently condemned political violence on both sides of the aisle, specifically violence directed at law enforcement, we now see some supporters of the President using violence as a means to achieve political ends,' Wolf said Thursday.
'This is unacceptable. These violent actions are unconscionable, and I implore the President and all elected officials to strongly condemn the violence that took place yesterday,' Wolf continued.
'DHS takes the safety and security of all Americans very seriously—it's at the core of our mission to defend our homeland. Any appearance of inciting violence by an elected official goes against who we are as Americans,' Wolf added.
Democratic leaders House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are both pressing Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to take power away from Trump after he incited his supporters to march on Capitol Hill.
Pence would need half of Trump's cabinet in order for the move to succeed.
However, Pelosi admitted at her press conference Thursday she didn't know what authority 'acting' cabinet members might have in 25th Amendment discussions.
Throughout Trump's presidency he's had a number of 'acting' officials in cabinet-level positions.