Trump’s chief of staff set to leave
Kelly becomes latest top adviser to quit after GOP losses
WASHINGTON — John Kelly, the retired Marine general tapped as chief of staff by President Donald Trump last year to bring order to his chaotic White House, will leave the job by the end of the year, the latest departure from the president’s inner circle after a bruising midterm election for his party.
Trump, who made the announcement to reporters on the White House lawn before departing for the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia on Saturday, said he would name a replacement for Kelly, perhaps on an interim basis, in the next day or two.
“John Kelly will be leaving — I don’t know if I can say ‘retiring,’ ” the president said. “But he’s a great guy. John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year.”
The leading candidate to replace Kelly is Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff and a Republican political operative.
Ayers, 36, has told Trump he would serve on an interim basis through the spring, according to people familiar with the discussions. But Trump wants a full-time replacement and is eager for Ayers to stay for the duration.
Kelly did not show up to work Friday. But Trump and Kelly met in the White House residence Friday night and hashed out the details of a departure. Pence and Ayers also attended the meeting.
Kelly had planned to announce his departure to senior staff members Monday, but Trump preempted him Saturday afternoon.
Kelly’s resignation had long been rumored amid signs that he and Trump had grown irritated with each other. The president privately fumed that he believed his chief was hiding things from him, and frequently upbraided him in the West Wing on matters large and small.
The chief of staff, who often said privately that he did not believe that Trump appreciated or understood his own job, had taken to telling colleagues “I don’t need this” after such criticism from the president.