Northern California Mayor William Kirby received massive backlash over an insensitive Twitter post, in which he compared GOP supporters to Klan members. Due to the controversy, the mayor had announced that he plans to step down this week.

Kirby’s tweet was met with angered residents from Auburn, as they confronted the mayor during a city council meeting for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. “I spent 40 years dedicating my life to serving the community of Auburn as a physician and through my volunteer efforts,” Kirby said in an official statement. He continued by admitting that his recent post was misguided, “Am I perfect? No. We’re all a little flawed.” While he was remorseful, Kirby continued to believe that people had just overreacted to his Klan statements. He went on to say that “Some people have viewed my posts, which were meant to be private and made out of frustration, as over the top.”

In a now-deleted post, Kirby shared a photo of people dressed in a Ku Klux Klan ensemble, complete white a white gown, and hood. The mayor wrote, “Good news for Trump supporters is that most of them already have masks.”

The mayor, who is also a licensed physician, played the well known Dem rhetoric of pinning the outbreak on President Donald Trump. As a doctor, he explained that he was utterly frustrated over the president’s response, and how he was putting his life at risk simply because the administration failed to provide the necessary personal protective equipment for medical personnel. “This president has put us all at risk,” the mayor declared.

However, Kirby’s remorse and apology had fallen on deaf ears. In a report from Fox News, City Councilwoman Cheryl Maki responded that she “abhors” the mayor’s insensitive comments. Maki added that she did not take the time to listen to Kirby’s apology. Another Councilman, Daniel Berlant, said that what matters most, is to focus on how to respond to the deadly COVID-19 virus, as well as assuring coronavirus patients a rapid recovery.

In another report by Fox 40, the media outlet shared that Kirby plans to step down at the next council meeting on the 27th, due to mounting pressure over his social media statements.

On the other hand, the Democratic party, as well as some state governors, were planning to defy Trump’s plan to re-open the economy by the end of April. Trump responded on Tuesday that he would not pressure governors to open their states.

In his statement, Trump said that governors would know if they are already ready to open. He also cited Democrat and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, to re-open New York City and other Democrat governors in neighboring states might do as well.

“I want him to take his time, do it right,” Trump said, implying that he does not plan to interfere with the governors’ decision. “We’ll open up in beautiful little pieces as it comes along,” the president added.