DIWALI AT WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON : US president Donald Trump called ties with India a “bulwark for freedom, prosperity, and peace”, spoke of his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and, trying to lighten up the trade negotiations between the two countries, he said Indians are “very good negotiators”. The President also announced he was nominating an Indian American lawyer, Neomi Rao, who is serving as administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, to the vacancy left on the DC circuit court of appeal by Brett Kavanaugh who was recently confirmed as the ninth justice of the Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump is reportedly planning to replace his chief of staff, the head of homeland security and a senior national security council official in a major personnel shake-up.
Chief of staff John Kelly’s departure has been speculated about for months despite a public shout-out of confidence from Trump that he plans to keep him around for all of his first term ending 2020. He is back on the exit list, his fate linked to that of the head of homeland security.
Kirstjen Nielsen, the secretary of homeland security, has been on the president’s cross-hairs for a while and he has not been reluctant to vent his frustration and irritation with her, upbraiding her publicly. But he has also praised her publicly at times.
Deputy national security adviser Mira Ricardel was entered on the departure list by First Lady Melania Trump, whose office said in an unusual statement on Tuesday that the official “no longer deserves the honour of serving in this White House”.
Trump is understood to have signed off on his wife’s request, but has not remarked or tweeted about it and the rest, letting the speculation continue. “We will be talking about it,” he said when asked about the reported personnel changes at a White House event on Tuesday to mark Diwali.
One reason for the delay could be that he may not have found the replacements yet.
Reportedly, there is a replacement for his chief of staff though: Nick Ayers, who is serving the same position in the office of VicePresident Mike Pence. Ayres’ absence from Pence’s current entourage to Singapore and other Asian stops added to the speculation.
Trump’s family, including his daughter and son-in-law Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner are rooting for Ayers. The New York Times reported that Donald Trump Jr, the president’s eldest son, has told friends Ayers is a “competent” man, which is highpraise apparently.
Also on media’s list for the chief of staff position is Mick Mulvaney, who is heading the powerful office of management and budget at the White House. He is understood to be ready for a change but will be happy with whosoever gets the nod eventually. Trump doesn’t have a replacement for Nielsen yet, a high-profile job that entails driving Trump’s hardline immigration agenda. It’s a daunting task that comes with very close scrutiny from Trump.