Trump's confidantes explain the confounding reason Trump won't fire John Kelly


"The Rob Porter crisis has become a John Kelly crisis, and it has now totally engulfed the West Wing," says Jonathan Swan at Axios. But while President Trump complains to friends and advisers about his White House chief of staff's mishandling of the scandal over the former staff secretary's apparent violence toward his ex-wives, and especially the bad press it is engendering, Kelly's job is safe for one strange reason: Kelly hates his job. "That changes Trump's calculus," a source close to Trump tells Swan.
There are other reasons Trump won't fire Kelly — "the president needs and trusts John Kelly," one official assures CNN, and Swan says Trump is still impressed by Kelly's toughness and four-star general status, doesn't think the scandal has touched him personally, and doesn't have an obvious replacement in mind. But Trump also doesn't appear to "have the stomach to do what he normally does when he's fed up with them," the source close to Trump tells Axios. "He usually makes their lives miserable, publicly humiliates them. But now he's up against somebody who doesn't care and would happily leave."
Kelly's stock among the West Wing staff has also tanked because of his effusive support for Porter right up until he resigned Wednesday, but staffers also see Kelly as a critical stabilizing force in Trump's chaotic White House, CNN reports. The White House is actively trying to "inoculate Kelly and protect him" from the scandal by "essentially placing blame on others," a source familiar with the strategy tells Axios. And even aides who resent Kelly's iron fist, like Ivanka Trump, "won't do anything to undermine him," one official tells CNN. "If Kelly leaves, the rest of the ship goes with him." So: Sorry, Kelly.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Spaniards seeing red over bullfighting
Under the Radar Shock resignation of top matador is latest blow in culture war over tradition that increasingly divides Spain
-
Bailouts: Why Trump is rescuing Argentina
Feature The White House approved a $20 billion currency swap with Argentina
-
James indictment: Trump’s retribution
Feature Trump pursues charges against Letitia James in revenge for her civil fraud lawsuit
-
Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak
Speed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages
-
Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom
speed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million
-
Appeals court clears Trump’s Portland troop deployment
Speed 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’ rallies
Speed Read An estimated 7 million people participated, 2 million more than at the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June
-
DOJ indicts John Bolton over classified files
Speed Read Continuing the trend of going after his political enemies, Trump prosecutes his former national security adviser
-
Trump, Putin set summit as Zelenskyy lands in DC
Speed Read Trump and Putin have agreed to meet in Budapest soon to discuss ending the war in Ukraine
-
Courts deal setbacks to Trump’s Chicago operations
Speed Read President Donald Trump cannot deploy the National Guard in Illinois
-
Pentagon reporters turn in badges after refusing rules
Speed Read They refused to sign a restrictive new press policy imposed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth