John Kelly has reportedly called Trump 'an idiot' behind closed doors
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
White House Chief of Staff John Kelly has repeatedly called President Trump "an idiot" in recent months, and seeks to paint himself as a heroically balancing force in the West Wing, NBC News reported Monday.
Eight current and former White House officials told NBC News that Kelly's relationship with Trump has deteriorated, and Kelly has reportedly implied that he is the only one keeping the administration from collapse. Colleagues say that Kelly frequently says things like "I'm the one saving the country." Officials predict that Kelly will leave the White House by July, the one-year mark of his time in office. Three White House representatives told NBC News that they did not believe reports that Kelly called Trump an "idiot."
He has additionally made disparaging comments about women, sources said. Staffers said that Kelly on multiple occasions said that women were more emotional than men, and that he once questioned why former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter's ex-wives couldn't "move on" from their allegations of abuse. When Porter eventually resigned over the allegations, Kelly reportedly sympathized with his plight in private but urged staffers to publicly say that he had pushed Porter out.
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.
In conversations with other lawmakers, Kelly has reportedly poked fun at Trump for his lack of knowledge regarding policy and government. "We've got to save him from himself," Kelly reportedly said of Trump. "He's an idiot." Kelly disputed the report in a statement, saying it was "total BS" and that his relationship with Trump remains strong.
Read more at NBC News.
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.
-
Political cartoons for February 19Cartoons Thursday’s political cartoons include a suspicious package, a piece of the cake, and more
-
The Gallivant: style and charm steps from Camber SandsThe Week Recommends Nestled behind the dunes, this luxury hotel is a great place to hunker down and get cosy
-
The President’s Cake: ‘sweet tragedy’ about a little girl on a baking mission in IraqThe Week Recommends Charming debut from Hasan Hadi is filled with ‘vivid characters’
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
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
