Kelly tells staff there are 'no immediate personnel changes' as rumors swirl

(Image credit: Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images)

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who is among a number of top administration officials rumored to have his job on the line, told staffers Friday morning that there will be "no immediate personnel changes at this time," Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders relayed at Friday's briefing.

Kelly additionally told reporters at an off-the-record meeting that "Trump's own conversations [have apparently been] a significant contributing factor to stories about the staff changes," Axios reports. The Washington Post reported Thursday that President Trump has decided to replace National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, but won't fire him immediately to avoid embarrassing the three-star Army general, while Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is also rumored to be on the chopping block over what appear to be massive ethics violations.

Trump assured Thursday: "There will always be change. I think you want to see change."

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.