Trump’s pick for new White House chief of staff says no

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.

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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.