Close Trump aide said to set exit
Ex-bodyguard reported to be emotional anchor for president
President Donald Trump’s allies said they are worried that the most damaging of the many recent departures from the White House may be that of Keith Schiller, a little-known former bodyguard who’s one of the president’s closest confidants outside of his family.
Schiller is leaving soon to return to the private security business for a job that will pay far more than his $165,000 government salary, according to three people familiar with his plans. His title, director of Oval Office operations, hardly begins to describe his importance to Trump, who is “crushed” by his planned departure, according to one person close to the president.
Multiple people interviewed described Schiller as an emotional anchor for the president in a White House often marked by turmoil. Schiller has worked for Trump for nearly two decades, and within the West Wing he serves as the president’s protector and gatekeeper, according to people close to Schiller and Trump. Most of the people requested anonymity to candidly discuss relationships between the president and his aides.
“He’s a confidant and friend,” said Stuart Jolly, a former national field director for Trump’s presidential campaign. Trump “trusts Keith, and Keith trusts him. Trust is a really big deal at that level.”
Schiller also has acted as Trump’s hatchet man. It was Schiller who told James Comey that the president had decided to fire him as FBI director. Two weeks ago, after Trump was angered by preparations for a rally in Phoenix, Schiller delivered the message to longtime aide George Gigicos that Trump no longer wanted him to organize such events, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Schiller declined to comment.
Schiller never planned to stay in the position for long because of its lower pay and longer hours, according to two people who know him. But his exit may have been accelerated by the July appointment of retired Marine Gen. John Kelly as chief of staff, the people said. Since taking the job, Kelly has sought to tighten access to the Oval Office, control information flowing to the president and install a more formal work environment within the White House.
Schiller has told friends that working under Kelly is different and that he doesn’t like the job as much. He has said he believes that Kelly doesn’t like Trump personally and is serving as chief of staff predominantly out of a sense of duty to country, according to three people familiar with his views. That has been deeply demoralizing for Schiller, who is accustomed to Trump being surrounded by devoted employees, two people said.
Schiller lost his privilege to walk into the Oval Office at any time when Kelly took over. He now views his job as redundant, people close to him said. The president has Secret Service to protect him, valets to fetch what he needs, aides to dial his phone — people to handle every facet of Oval Office operations.
Two people close to Trump said they worry that Schiller’s departure will leave the president and the West Wing off-balance, given the deep relationship the two men share. These people said Schiller’s exit could put Trump on a collision course with Kelly, who they said does not understand as well how Trump likes to operate.
Trump’s allies may have more personal concerns. Schiller is a contact for Trump friends who want to reach the president. And campaign staff members knew the best way to get Trump’s ear was to slip a note to Schiller — especially if they wanted to bypass Trump’s first campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, whom Schiller didn’t always get along with.
On many days, Schiller is the first and last aide Trump sees. During the campaign, Schiller heard nearly every conversation and phone call as he sat in cars by Trump’s side, traveling between rallies, former campaign aides said.
Schiller served in the Navy and as a New York City police officer before becoming a part-time bodyguard for Trump in 1999. He was named head of security for the Trump Organization in 2004. He knows most employees at the company and shares his opinion of all staff members, inside and outside the White House, with the president.