The New York Times reports that President Donald J. Trump told reporters today that his current White House Chief of Staff, John Kelly, will leave the position by the end of the year.
Mr. Trump, speaking with reporters on the White House lawn before departing for the Army-Navy football game in Philadelphia, said that he would announce a replacement for Mr. Kelly in the next day or two.
The leading candidate to replace Mr. Kelly is Nick Ayers, Vice President Mike Pence’s 36-year-old chief of staff and a Republican political operative, who possesses the kind of savvy about campaigns that Mr. Trump has craved. Mr. Kelly, a career military officer before becoming Mr. Trump’s first homeland security secretary, lacked such experience.
Mr. Kelly’s departure leaves Mr. Trump with an ever-shrinking team of close advisers as he begins to navigate the new power structure on Capitol Hill that will be ushered in next month when Democrats assume control of the House.
According to NBC News correspondent Kelly O'Donnell, the president praised Kelly and thanked him for his service.
BREAKING .@realDonaldTrump says chief of staff John Kelly is leaving at end of the year telling reporters on the South Lawn
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) December 8, 2018
The president praised John Kelly and thanked him. He said he would announce a successor within in a few days and that person may serve on an interim basis.
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) December 8, 2018
Kelly, a retired Marine Corps general, joined the administration a little over a year and half ago.