As the New York Times reports:
Reince Priebus, the establishment Republican-turned-loyalist to President Trump who served as his White House chief of staff for the last six months, was pushed out on Friday in the latest convulsion in a chaos-wracked West Wing to which he had repeatedly failed to bring some semblance of order.
Convinced that Mr. Priebus was not strong enough, Mr. Trump has been talking about bringing in “a general” as chief of staff and chose John F. Kelly, the retired Marine four-star general serving as secretary of homeland security. But some of his advisers oppose that idea, arguing that Mr. Trump needs someone more in tune with the nationalist political movement that helped propel him to the White House.
Mr. Priebus, a former chairman of the Republican National Committee, lost his job just hours after the president’s signature drive to repeal his predecessor’s health care program collapsed on the Senate floor and a day after an ugly feud with the new communications director erupted in a public airing of the deep animosities plaguing the White House.
President Trump announced — via Twitter — that John Kelly will serve as his new Chief of Staff. Kelly will presumably leave his position as Secretary of Homeland Security to accept the new role.
It’s not hyperbole to suggest that the White House is in complete disarray at this point. Just two days ago, Trump’s new choice to be Communications Director — Anthony Scaramucci — bragged to a reporter that Priebus would soon be out the door after losing a power struggle over Scaramucci’s appointment. Chief Strategist Steve Bannon has also been rumored to be on the hot seat, and in this White House, rumors seem to swiftly become reality.
Take a look at what Paul Waldman wrote for the Washington Post just yesterday:
Donald Trump, like many a businessman-turned-politician before him, argued that if he was elected, he would bring his managerial acumen to Washington, making government run like a business with efficiency and skill.
What we’ve seen instead is the most chaotic and incompetent White House in living memory. And it’s only getting worse…
…I’m sure this all makes the Trump administration an exciting place to work — from one day to the next you never know who’s at war with whom, who’s getting fired, what sweeping policy changes will be made, or what the president will tweet next. Most of Trump’s agenda is stalled, half the key jobs are vacant, senior officials can’t wait to get out of town, and everybody’s leaking to the press about what a mess it all is. This is one fine-tuned machine all right. [Pols emphasis]
And it’s still only July.
Day 25:POTUS fires Natl Sec Advisor
Day 110:POTUS fires FBI Dir
Day 183:POTUS namesCD/Press Secy resigns
Day 190:WH CoS out,details to come— Chris Donovan (@chrisdonovan) July 28, 2017
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In this WH it might be a little strange that someone is "fired". The big question is why in hell would anyone volunteer to be a in the West Wing staff, especially CoS?
Good to hear from you Pam! You practically have a front row seat 🙂
The big question is why in hell would anyone volunteer to be a in the West Wing staff, especially CoS?
In one word, masochism.
Whip me, beat me. Make me work in the Trump White House.
You're joking, but there is something really pathetic and creepy about Sessions "It hurts so good" remarks to Tucker Carlson.
I'm no fan of Sessions, but he can leave after Mueller finishes investigating. I think it will be sooner, though.
Another one bites the dust.
Trump stinks. And the chief of staff's office is downwind of him.
For your own sake, general, wear a gas mask. And a flak jacket. And never, ever, turn your back to Scaramouche.
Trump has abandoned the last pretence of dignity and is now just the Mooch's puppet.
The Mooch is more of a front-stabbing guy. That's how they do it on Wall Street.
Bannon will be gone by Wednesday.
Don't be crying prematurely for Bannon . . .
. . . like Moochie said, he can [take care of himself]!
I really hope so. He could take Seb Gorka with him, and the rest of the Breitbart crowd.
They won't leave quietly though. It could lead to a real bloodbath if Bannon goes back to Breitbar. Surely Trump isn't that unhinged?
What, GG, you mean something in the Trump White House might be weird, unhinged, and ugly? That's never happened!
At least he did it by tweet. Just to twist the knife, which I believe makes extracting the heart easier–although the empty soul does create a vacuum.
Priebus was probably the primary leaker. A life of public service management is not equivalent or transferable to a life of private sector management.
"Off with their heads!" the queen shouted without looking up from her furious work with her tiny fingers.
Why would you assume that poor Reince was in any way disloyal to the mad queen? Reince got fired so that makes him guilty of something something. Typical robot response from a drone.
GG: just more attempts at distraction by Passionate Prune.
I liked Prune better when he was ranting about the need to primary every member of congress starting with Coffman.
And the problem with that is?
Like Cory Gardner, you are a sad caricature of the swaggering and arrogant little man of the Almighty God who was going to show the heathen liberals the errors of their ways. What a come down from being the cocky, new sheriff in town to whimpering about how the crew on the Trumptanic weren't loyal enough to the captain. How do you manage to get up in the morning knowing you have failed in your mission to bring us poor liberals to heel?
The primary leaker–and the one doing the most damage–is Donald J Trump.
. . .
"Fredo, I know it was me." ???
Who will run Homeland Security? Rudy Giuliani? Chris Christie? Carrie Matheson? Ivanka?
Probably Jared. That way he can approve his own security clearance, no matter what those whiny little investigators from Mueller's office say!
Melania. Right after she tackles that bullying thing…..
I think he is bringing in officers Toody and Muldoon….
Toody and Muldoon? Careful, Duke, you're showing your age (me too, since I also know who they are).
Michael Flynn . . .
. . . he's tanned, rested, and ready!
Jeez, I just can't wait until "American Dreams" week starts to see who takes the first choker in August . . .
He selected his new chief of staff too quickly. I wanted to recommend Cory Gardner be named. After all, what is White House COS but an Uber tool.
What could be worse for Cory? The wrath of his constituents or the wrath of Biff?
Trump's clearly bored with the cozying-up-to-the-GOP-establishment experiment. Time to fill up the West Wing exclusively with
lickspittle toadiesTrue Believers.Scaramouche!'s fandango has faltered. His wife has now filed for divorce. Seems she was never a Trump fan, and found ScaryMooch's "naked political ambition" troubling.
Can't blame her for that.
So much for power being a big aphrodisiac.
That's what Marla Maples said . . .
The Mooch chose to be with Trump rather than his wife in labor, or his newborn son. He has 4 other kids, 3 with his first wife, who also is not a Trump fan. No wonder Trump likes Scarymooch…they're like kindred spirits.
Yay, party of family values.