You’re fired: Trump sacks Priebus after turbulent six months
President gives chief of staff role to former general John Kelly after private feuding became public
REINCE PRIEBUS was sacked as White House chief of staff last night after a turbulent six-month tenure, dominated by infighting and policy paralysis, as Donald Trump moved John Kelly from the Department of Homeland Security to take over the role.
The shake-up comes at the end of an extraordinary week marked by the eruption of private feuding into public view. A day earlier, Anthony Scaramucci, Mr Trump’s new communications director, was caught out describing Mr Priebus as “paranoid” during a foulmouthed tirade.
The president announced the appointment of Mr Kelly in characteristic fashion. “He is a Great American and a Great Leader,” he wrote on Twitter. “John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my administration.”
Mr Trump’s first months in office have been marked by factional squabbling and a struggle to force the repeal of Obamacare through Congress.
The president has repeatedly told friends he thought Mr Priebus was weak. In contrast he has been complimentary about the firm hand Mr Kelly was taking at the Department of Homeland Security.
Now he will be hoping he can transfer that leadership to a White House where personal enmities have frequently overshadowed Mr Trump’s faltering agenda.
“I would like to thank Reince Priebus for his service and dedication to his country,” added Mr Trump. “We accomplished a lot together and I am proud of him!”
Michael Mccaul, a Congressman who serves as chairman of the House committee on Homeland Security, is among those being considered to take over Mr Kelly’s position, according to a spokesman for the department.
Mr Priebus said in a statement last night that serving Mr Trump has been “one of the greatest honours of my life”.
“I want to thank the president for giving me this very special opportunity. I will continue to serve as a strong supporter of the president’s agenda and policies. I can’t think of a better person than General John Kelly to succeed me and I wish him God’s blessings and great success,” he said.
A senior White House official said Mr Priebus had been told two weeks ago of the president’s intention to remove him. Mr Priebus was one of the few figures from the Republican leadership to join Mr Trump’s unconventional team but found himself isolated among the
‘He’s a good man, he’s a good leader but I think the chaos will drive him crazy and this will be a revolving post’
Trump family members, retired generals and Wall Street millionaires who made up much of its core.
The beginning of the end arrived last Friday when Mr Trump announced he was appointing Mr Scaramucci as director of communications despite the objections of his chief of staff.
Tension escalated further on Thursday when Mr Scaramucci appeared on CNN and all but accused Mr Priebus of being the source of damaging leaks.
Hours later, a New Yorker reporter published details of a telephone conversation during which Mr Scaramucci threatened to fire his own communications team as he searched for White House moles.
He also delivered a profanity-laden description of Mr Priebus as a “paranoid schizophrenic” and said he would soon be asked to resign.
Axios reported that insiders said Mr Trump “loved” the comments, pointing out that president is keen on spokesmen who show some backbone.
Mr Kelly is due to start his new job on Monday. However, observers said he may struggle to cope with the competing power centres operating in this White House. Rich Galen, a Republican strategist, said it was a thankless task for anyone.
“That is even more true for a retired general, who since he was 17 years old has understood the chain of command, which simply doesn’t exist in this White House,” he said.
“He’ll give it everything he’s got, he’s a good man, he’s a good leader but I think the chaos will drive him crazy and this will be a revolving post.”
The White House infighting also served as a distraction from more bad news for Republican efforts to repeal Obamacare. In the early hours of yesterday morning, the Senate once again failed to pass a bill that would have undone key elements of Barack Obama’s signature policy.