Nielsen rating low, facing the boot

President Trump has decided to dump Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, whom he has blamed for a surge in illegal border crossings and whose immigration enforcement efforts he has criticized, according to multiple reports.

Five current and former White House officials told The Washington Post that Nielsen (inset, far right) would be ousted, possibly as early as this week.

Trump canceled a scheduled trip with Nielsen this week to visit troops at the US border in south Texas and told his advisers this weekend that he wants her out as soonn as possible.

He has long griped about whatat he views as Nielsen’sen’s poor performancence on immigrationon en-enforcementt and is be-believed to bebe seek-seeking a replace-acement whoo will better enforce his policies. Chief of Staff John Kelly (inset left), who installed Nielsen as his replacement at Homeland Security when he came to thethe WhiteW House, is fighting her pending dismissal and is trying to delay it, according to the papaper. But hhis tenure in the adadministration also is shaky, three White House officials said.

Trump has recently resumed polling aides on possible replacements for Kelly, who was thought to be staying through the 2020 campaign.

Numerous reports said Trump has been discussing a handful of replacements, including Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff.

The Department of Homeland Security — the nation’s third-largest government agency — will get its fourth secretary in two years once Nielsen is replaced.