White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has repeatedly called President Trump "an idiot" in recent months, and seeks to paint himself as a heroically balancing force in the West Wing, NBC News reported Monday.
Eight current and former White House officials told NBC News that Kelly's relationship with Trump has deteriorated, and Kelly has reportedly implied that he is the only one keeping the administration from collapse. Colleagues say that Kelly frequently says things like "I'm the one saving the country." Officials predict that Kelly will leave the White House by July, the one-year mark of his time in office. Three White House representatives told NBC News that they did not believe reports that Kelly called Trump an "idiot."
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