White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday during a press briefing that the president has been following the situation in Los Angeles and that he was glad that “one of the participants in that conversation has resigned, but they all should.”
“The language that was used and tolerated during that conversation was unacceptable and it was appalling,” Jean-Pierre continued. “They should all step down.”
The statement from the White House came a day after Martinez announced that she was resigning from her position as city council president. Martinez is also taking a leave of absence from city council for an unspecified period of time, The Los Angeles Times reported on Tuesday.
Martinez has faced a wave of backlash after an audio clip was released by the Times in which the councilwoman made insulting remarks about fellow Democratic Councilman Mike Bonin’s son. Martinez said in the audio clip that Bonin, who is white, treats his son, who is Black, like an “accessory,” and that Bonin is “raising him like a white kid.”
Martinez made the remarks during a conversation in October 2021 with Los Angeles City Council members Gil Cedillo and Kevin de León. Ron Herrera, former head of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, was also present in the conversation, and resigned from his position on Monday.
An election for a new president of the Los Angeles City Council will take place next Tuesday, according to Fox 11 Los Angeles reporter Elex Michaelson.
Martinez said in a statement on Tuesday that “this has been one of the most difficult times” of her life, and recognized “this is entirely of my own making,” according to the Times.
“At this moment, I need to take a leave of absence and take some time to have an honest and heartfelt conversation with my family, my constituents and community leaders,” Martinez said.
Council members Cedilla and de León have also been called on by city leaders to resign, including by Mayor Eric Garcetti, reported the Times. In a meeting held at the city council on Tuesday, a crowd of protestors demanded that the two council members leave the chambers, reported KNX News’ Emily Valdez.
In a video shared to Twitter by Valdez, the crowd at the meeting is shown holding signs that read “shame on you” and “take out the trash,” and protestors chant in unison “not one more day.”
Bonin also spoke at the Tuesday meeting, and said that he was “still trying to wrap [his] head around everything that was said,” according to a video tweeted by The New York Times.
“My husband and I are both raw and angry and heartbroken and sick,” Bonin said during the meeting.
Jean-Pierre on Tuesday also contrasted Democrats and “MAGA Republicans’’ in light of Martinez’s comments, saying that “when a Democrat says something racist or antisemitic we… hold Democrats accountable.”
“When a MAGA Republican says something racist or antisemitic, they’re embraced by cheering crowds and become celebrated and sought after endorsements,” Jean-Pierre continued.
Jean-Pierre also acknowledged comments made on Saturday by Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville at a rally hosted by former President Donald Trump in Nevada. Tuberville, a Republican, was criticized for promoting racial stereotypes when trying to critique Democrats’ approach to crime.
“The president used the saying, and I’ll quote the president right now,” Jean-Pierre continued at the briefing. “‘Hate never goes away, it only hides. But lately, it’s just out in the open at these extreme MAGA rallies.’”
Newsweek reached out to Martinez’s team for comment.
