In a recent interview, former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos expresses for the first time her disgust with former President Donald Trump’s unwillingness to ‘do what he could have done’ to prevent the events of January 6th.
On Jan. 7, 2020, DeVos resigned from her position, citing the unrest the day before and Trump’s language as a “inflection point.”
‘When I saw what was going on that day, I thought about kids all over the country and what they were watching, and I just felt like there were things the president could have done to stop it, turn it around, and avoid all of the consequences,’ she said.
‘And when he turned his back on his vice president, it was just a bridge too far.’ So I just finished my work in Washington. I couldn’t possibly accomplish something more significant on behalf of children. As a result, that was the turning point for me.’
‘And then, on Jan. 6, when I watched what was going on and didn’t see the president step in and do what he could have done to turn it back, slow it down, or truly address the matter, it was clear to me that I couldn’t continue,’ she told USA Today in an interview.
‘I was thinking about the kids I was there to represent, and what they were seeing and taking away from it – it was in no way justifiable.’
With a copy of her upcoming book propped up in the background, she stated, ‘The resignation occurred at a time when I understood my job was over.’
She claimed that the 25th Amendment had been considered by “more than a few people” in the White House. Trump would spend weeks screaming election fraud, skip Joe Biden’s inauguration, and fail to participate in a transition for weeks.
She claims she spoke with Vice President Mike Pence, whom Trump chastised for not displaying “courage” by refusing to count votes certified by states.
‘I spoke with the vice president and simply told him that I was available to do whatever he wanted and needed me to do or assist him with, and he made it very clear that he was not going down that path,’ she added.
‘I spoke with a few of my coworkers,’ she explained. ‘I also spoke with the vice president,’ says the author.
‘He made it clear to me that that was not the path he wanted to take.’ That was not going to happen, that was not going to happen once that was made obvious. Those were the actual discussions. ‘I was determined to learn everything we needed to know and to determine how we would proceed or not advance on anything,’ she explained.
There was speculation at the time that if Trump’s cabinet critics departed in droves, the president’s power to invoke the 25th Amendment, which allows the cabinet to vote that the president is “unable to fulfill the responsibilities of his office,” triggering a vote in Congress, would be jeopardized.
‘I had a discussion with my coworkers. I wanted to learn more about the law and see if it applied to this particular situation. ‘Those conversations were had internally by a number of people,’ she said.
‘Hostages No More: The Fight for Education Freedom and the Future of the American Child,’ she wrote about the incident in a book.
She argues in it that Trump’s attempt to overturn the election came in the way of enacting a school choice agenda.
‘It had nothing to do with the election results.’ It was all about the United States’ ideals and image. It was about putting the needs of others before of one’s own. She wrote, ‘The president had lost sight of that.’
‘A lot of what transpired after the election put hurdles in the way of completing any big further work, so I truly felt like I’d accomplished everything I could in office based on that reality and dynamic.’
Despite applauding Trump’s “many accomplishments,” her resignation letter hinted at a rupture with him.
‘On behalf of the American people, we should be publicizing and celebrating your Administration’s tremendous accomplishments,’ she wrote. ‘Instead, we’re left to clean up the shambles left by violent protestors who overran the United States Capitol in an attempt to sabotage the people’s will.’ That was awful behavior for our country. There’s no denying your speech had an impact on the situation, and it’s the turning point for me.’