Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao is first Trump Cabinet member to quit after riot

U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned Thursday because of the mob attack on the Capitol fueled by President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, saying the riot had “deeply troubled” her.

Chao is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, and is the first Trump Cabinet member to quit in connection with Wednesday’s chaos.

Her departure came after several other resignations by Trump administration officials on the heels of the riot, among them top economic and national security advisors.

“Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed,” Chao said in a statement.

“As I’m sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside,” Chao said.

Chao’s husband, along with other Republican members of Congress, had deeply angered Trump by refusing to block the confirmation of the election of Joe Biden as the next president.

Earlier Thursday, Tyler Goodspeed, acting chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, resigned over the violent invasion of the Capitol complex, which occurred during those Electoral College voting counting proceedings in Congress.

“I can confirm Tyler’s resignation effective today,” said a CEA spokeswoman.

“The events at the U.S. Capitol yesterday led Tyler to conclude his position was untenable.”