Trump says aide accused of wife abuse could still have ‘a great career’

DONALD TRUMP said yesterday that he hopes a senior aide who has resigned amid allegations that he beat two former wives has “a great career ahead of him”.

Rob Porter left the White House on Thursday after the allegations came to light. Yesterday the president praised Mr Porter’s work as the White House’s staff secretary. “He did a good job,” Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “Hopefully he will have a great career ahead of him. As you probably know he says he is innocent... I think you have to remember that”.

Mr Trump’s chief of staff, John Kelly, has faced questions over his defence of Mr Porter amid reports that some officials knew of the accusations for a year.

The episode was seized on by critics who say the administration is failing to properly vet staff and has a macho culture that does not protect women.

Democrats and women’s groups are demanding the resignation of Mr Kelly, a retired Marine general who was brought in last year to control an ill-disciplined White House. Mr Porter resigned just a day after Mr Kelly defended him saying: “Rob Porter is a man of true integrity and honour and I can’t say enough good things about him.”

He was forced to change tack after the Daily Mail published a photograph showing Colbie Holderness, Mr Porter’s first wife, with a black eye. Mr Kelly said he was “shocked” and there was no place for domestic violence in society, but added that everybody has the right to defend their reputation. Further muddying the fallout for the White House were reports that Mr Porter was dating Hope Hicks, the White House communications director.

Mr Porter denied any wrongdoing. “These outrageous allegations are simply false,” he said after his resignation. “I have been transparent and truthful about these vile claims, but I will not further engage publicly with a co-ordinated smear campaign.”

♦ Donald Trump yesterday signed a bill to boost spending on defence and domestic services by $300bn (£215bn), allowing the US government to reopen after a brief shutdown. Federal services closed on Thursday night, the second time this year, after a rebellion saw the Senate miss a midnight voting deadline.