Trump reportedly wants the White House to be even more chaotic


President Trump's ideal work environment is a bit unusual. The president reportedly views his administration as too stable and structured, preferring rapid staff turnover as the best way to keep moving forward, Bloomberg reported Thursday.
Trump contests the notion that his White House is in "chaos," anonymous staffers told Bloomberg. Rather, he thinks it's verging on stagnant, as he settles into his role as president and takes the lead on procedures previously left to Chief of Staff John Kelly.
Further, Trump apparently views his ouster of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, and Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin — all within a span of just 15 days — as a set of strategic moves to speed his agenda along. Bloomberg reports that Trump has recently complained about inaction in Congress, wishing for fewer of the "guardrails and rules" that get in the way of his priorities.
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.
Staffers and aides say that Trump's desire for more independent decision-making means that Kelly's leverage over the president is waning, and Trump is making major decisions, like the replacement of McMaster with John Bolton, on his own. Against Kelly's advice, Trump is in contact with former members of the administration who caused plenty of chaos of their own: former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and former communications director Anthony Scaramucci. Read more at Bloomberg.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Digital addiction: the compulsion to stay online
In depth What it is and how to stop it
-
Can Trump bully Netanyahu into Gaza peace?
Today's Big Question The Israeli leader was ‘strong-armed’ into new peace deal
-
‘The Taliban delivers yet another brutal blow’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Court allows Trump’s Texas troops to head to Chicago
Speed Read Trump is ‘using our service members as pawns in his illegal effort to militarize our nation’s cities,’ said Gov. J.B. Pritzker
-
Judge bars Trump’s National Guard moves in Oregon
Speed Read In an emergency hearing, a federal judge blocked President Donald Trump from sending National Guard troops into Portland
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies