Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus called for Trump administration officials and staffers to resign en masse to protest the president's refusal to stand up against Russian aggression.
President Donald Trump went ahead with his widely criticized one-on-one meeting with Russian president Vladimir Putin despite the indictments last week of 12 Russian intelligence officials, and Marcus called on administration officials to take a stand.
"Everyone who works for Trump: quit now," Marcus tweeted. "Save your souls. Save your honor. Save your reputation. Russia attacked our democracy. He doesn’t care, won’t defend our country."
Marcus, the deputy editorial page editor, said the moment called for drastic measures to counter Russian efforts to influence U.S. elections and undermine American national security and global influence.
"I know this sounds extreme," Marcus said. "It doesn’t feel like my usual approach to things. But extreme times, extreme measures. Maybe mass resignations of the (alleged) grownups would rouse a supine Congress, alarm even some Trump voters."
"Think about it," she said. "You are a Republican who loves your country. Or you are a foreign policy or intelligence professional. What do you do in the face of Trump’s craven capitulation to an adversary. It is a hard choice but one that Trump is making easier/forcing, every day."
She called out some administration officials by name and challenged them to oppose the president in some meaningful way.
"What is the impact & message of your continued presence?" Marcus said. "Are you mitigating Trump’s excesses, or enabling/covering for them? Jon Huntsman? Gina Haspell? Dan Coats? Gulp, James Mattis? How explain your continued service, to yourself now or down the road, to your children?"