Souring on his chief of staff?

President said not happy with Nielsen, Kelly

President Trump is eyeing another major staff shake-up that could put Chief of Staff John Kelly on the chopping block, as well as Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is weighing an administration-wide shake-up as he looks to prepare his White House for divided government, but it is unclear who is going and who is staying.

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was thought to be out as soon as this week, according to two people with knowledge of the issue, but she is now likely to remain in the post for a longer period because there is no obvious successor in place.

Trump has soured on Nielsen and White House chief of staff John Kelly, in part over frustration that his administration is not doing more to address what he has called a crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, according to the people. But the scope of the contemplated changes is far broader as Trump gears up for a wave of Democratic oversight requests.

According to people familiar with the situation, Trump is also discussing replacing Kelly with Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, Nick Ayers. Kelly, a retired Marine general, has been credited with bringing order and process to a chaotic West Wing, but he has fallen out of favor with the president as well as presidential daughter Ivanka Trump and son-inlaw Jared Kushner.

Ayers, a seasoned campaign operative, would restore a political mindset to the role, but he faces stiff opposition from some corners of the West Wing, with some aides lobbying Trump directly against the move.

Other changes are afoot, as Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke are being discussed for replacement.

For all the talk of change, Trump often expresses frustration with aides and then does not take action. Talk of Kelly’s exit has percolated for months, and he remains in place.

Nielsen had hoped to complete one year in the job and leave in December, but it appeared unlikely she would last that long, said two sources. Both people who had knowledge of the debate spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Also Tuesday, in an extraordinary move, first lady Melania Trump called publicly for the deputy national security adviser to be dismissed.

After reports circulated Tuesday that the president had decided to remove Mira Ricardel from her post at the National Security Council, Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman, released a statement that said: “It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that the first lady’s staff and Ricardel had clashed during Melania Trump’s visit to Africa in October over such things as seating on the airplane and requests to use the council’s resources.