President Trump confirmed Saturday that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly will step-down by the end of the year, reports Fox News.
“John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year, we will be announcing who will be taking John’s place, it might be on an interim basis, I’ll be announcing that over the next day or two,” said the President.
“I appreciate his service very much,” he added.
At the South Lawn on Saturday, Trump said he’ll announce Kelly’s replacement in the next day or so.
Kelly, a retired Marine general, has been the president’s top aide since July 2017 and has had a rocky tenure. https://t.co/AZDLAJx3qJ
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 8, 2018
“Kelly, who previously served as Department of Homeland Security secretary, was widely reported to have been considering leaving his post. Trump had previously said Kelly would stay until 2020. The announcement comes amid a wider shakeup of staff by President Trump. On Friday, he announced that he had picked William Barr for attorney general and Heather Nauert for U.N. ambassador,” writes Fox.
This is a developing story.
VICIOUS: Liberals Call John Kelly 'Racist' After Heartfelt Press Briefing
I am stunned by John Kelley’s lies about a black woman who he called an ’empty barrel.’ https://t.co/cqA2pQ3vWp via @msnbc
— Lawrence O’Donnell (@Lawrence) October 20, 2017
BREAKING: Hope Hicks RESIGNS as White House Communications Director
White House Communications Director Hope Hicks announced her resignation Wednesday afternoon, ending the 29-year old’s tenure as one of President Trump’s longest-serving staffers.
According to the New York Times, Hicks -who joined President Trump’s campaign in 2016- has considered leaving the post for months, telling colleagues “she had accomplished what she felt she could with a job that made her one of the most powerful people in Washington, and that there would never be a perfect moment to leave.”
The news comes less than 24 hours after she was questioned on Capitol Hill by the House Intelligence Committee over their investigation into allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential race.
“Hope is outstanding and has done great work for the last three years,” said a statement from President Trump.
“She is as smart and thoughtful as they come, a truly great person,” he added. “I will miss having her by my side but when she approached me about pursuing other opportunities, I totally understood. I am sure we will work together again in the future.”
“She became a trusted adviser and counselor and did a tremendous job overseeing the communications for the president’s agenda including the passage of historic tax reform,” added White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. “She has served her country with great distinction. To say that she will be missed, is an understatement.”