The hunt for a new White House Chief of Staff is set to continue, after Donald Trump, who first choice for a replacement for John Kelly declined to take on the role, citing family commitments.
36-year-old Nick Ayers had been widely tipped to replace Kelly, after relations between Kelly and Trump deteriorated to the point where they were “no longer on speaking terms”, with aides saying the relationship “cannot be repaired”, Sky News says.
Ayers, who is currently serving as the chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, took to social media to announce that he would be leaving the White House entirely at the end of the year.
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.
CNN says Ayers’ decision not to take on the role came because he “could not agree to terms” with Trump, who had asked Ayers for a two-year commitment to the role.
The Wall Street Journal says at least three people are now being considered for the job, including Mick Mulvaney, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, acting attorney general Matthew Whitaker and representative Mark Meadows from North Carolina.
Whoever takes on the role when Kelly leaves at the end of this month will be Trump’s third Chief of Staff in just two years.
-
Regent Hong Kong: a tranquil haven with a prime waterfront spotThe Week Recommends The trendy hotel recently underwent an extensive two-year revamp
-
The problem with diagnosing profound autismThe Explainer Experts are reconsidering the idea of autism as a spectrum, which could impact diagnoses and policy making for the condition
-
What are the best investments for beginners?The Explainer Stocks and ETFs and bonds, oh my
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
How corrupt is the UK?The Explainer Decline in standards ‘risks becoming a defining feature of our political culture’ as Britain falls to lowest ever score on global index
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
-
Trump links funding to name on Penn StationSpeed Read Trump “can restart the funding with a snap of his fingers,” a Schumer insider said
