Ex-California Mayor who stepped Down after Criticizing Trump’s Coronavirus Response Dies in Plane Crash


Former California Mayor who Faced Backlash for Comparing Trump to Hitler Dies

The former mayor of a Northern California city who quit after criticizing President Donald Trump and his supporters perished Saturday in a fatal plane crash.

Dr. Bill Kirby, an ex-mayor of Auburn, was piloting a plane that crashed shortly after 11 a.m. near the Auburn Municipal Airport. According to officials, a passenger who was in the plane sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital.

Kirby, 72, had been a licensed pilot since around 2009.

A week ago, Kirby gained notoriety after he posted on social media criticizing Trump’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak and comparing his supporters to KKK members.

The ex-mayor had announced in a meeting Monday that he was stepping down as a mayor and was to be succeeded by Councilman Daniel Berlant.

The plane accident was under investigation by the authorities.