Why John Kelly is ‘ready to quit’ as Donald Trump’s chief of staff
Kelly reportedly called White House a ‘miserable place to work’
The White House has denied reports that President Donald Trump is searching for a replacement for John Kelly following repeated resignation threats by the fed-up chief of staff.
Tensions have been high between the pair for some time. The president is irritated by the strict system that Kelly has imposed on him, which Trump beleves conflicts with his freewheeling leadership style, CNN reports. Kelly in turn has been horrified by Trump's unpredictable outbursts and has threatened to quit on a number of occasions.
Kelly has reportedly described the White House a “miserable place to work” and is said to have called Trump an “idiot”, according to Business Insider.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Time magazine reports Kelly as saying that “he’d be happy if he made it to the one-year mark in the position” - an anniversary that he is due to reach in late July.
Rumours are already circulating about who might replace him as chief of staff, despite the White House denying the reports.
“It is absolutely not true and that it is fake news. I’ve also spoken to General Kelly, who said this was news to him,” White House spokesperson Lindsay Walters said yesterday.
But similar denials have meant nothing in the past. The White House dismissed reports of the departure of then-national security adviser H.R. McMaster shortly before he left.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
According to sources close to Trump, possible candidates to take over from Kelly include the president’s budget director, Mick Mulvaney, and Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, Nick Ayers, says Time.
-
Spaniards seeing red over bullfightingUnder the Radar Shock resignation of top matador is latest blow in culture war over tradition that increasingly divides Spain
-
Bailouts: Why Trump is rescuing ArgentinaFeature The White House approved a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina
-
James indictment: Trump’s retributionFeature Trump pursues charges against Letitia James in revenge for her civil fraud lawsuit
-
Bailouts: Why Trump is rescuing ArgentinaFeature The White House approved a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina
-
Judge halts firings during government shutdownFeature A federal judge blocked President Trump’s plan to cut jobs tied to “Democrat programs,” ruling that his administration violated layoff laws during the shutdown
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
‘France may well be in store for a less than rocambolesque future’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deploymentSpeed Read A divided federal appeals court ruled that President Trump can send the National Guard to Portland
-
Millions turn out for anti-Trump ‘No Kings’ ralliesSpeed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
Conservative megadonors build a new bank thanks to Trump administration approvalIN THE SPOTLIGHT With a Lord Of The Rings-inspired name, and the backing of some of the biggest GOP financiers around, Erebor Bank is set to make major waves in the crypto world