Donald Trump scrambles to fill chief of staff role as leading contenders rebuff advances
Donald Trump has suggested he may have to find an interim replacement to John Kelly Credit: Reuters
Rozina Sabur, Washington
10 December 2018 • 9:00pm
Rozina Sabur
Donald Trump is scrambling to find a new chief of staff after leading contenders for the role reportedly rebuffed his advances.
The US president announced on Saturday that John Kelly would be vacating the post at the end of the year but he has yet to find a replacement to run the White House.
While traditionally a widely sought after job, Mr Trump is now looking to find his third chief of staff in two years and is reportedly struggling with the search.
Nick Ayers, the 36-year-old chief of staff to Mike Pence, the US vice president, was widely considered the front-runner to replace Mr Kelly.
But Mr Ayers took Washington by surprise at the weekend by turning down the role, announcing that he too was leaving the administration at the end of the year.
Nick Ayers, left, was reportedly being lined up to replace John Kelly, right Credit: Reuters
It is thought that Mr Ayers, who has been seen as a potential candidate for statewide office in Georgia, was reluctant to tie himself to Mr Trump for what will be a difficult final two years of his first term.
The young and ambitious aide was known to be a favourite with the president's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner.
The pair, who both serve as advisers to Mr Trump, are reported to have repeatedly clashed with Mr Kelly over the past two years and sought to replace him with an ally.
Mr Kelly, a retired four-star general, is credited with bringing order to the White House after a chaotic first six months, but his desire for structure and hierarchy is said to have increasingly grated on the president.
His departure had long been rumoured, with Mr Kelly reportedly frustrated at Mr Trump's freewheeling style.
According to reports, Mr Kelly was planning to announce on Monday that he was standing down but Mr Trump let slip the news during an on-camera briefing with reporters on Saturday.
Mark Meadows, the leader of the hard line conservative Freedom Caucus, and Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary, were reported to head the list after Mr Trump's first pick dropped out.
Robert Lighthizer, the US trade representative, is also being considered. However both Mr Lightizer and Mr Mnuchin are said to be reluctant to leave their current positions.
Mr Meadows told reporters on Monday that serving as Mr Trump's chief of staff "would be an incredible honour", suggesting he is eager to take up the role.
The North Carolina congressman is known to be a fierce supporter of the president and his experience on Capitol Hill will be an advantage in 2019.
Chris Christie, a former Republican governor and presidential candidate, and Mick Mulvaney, the budget and management director, have also been floated as potential replacements.
Whoever is at the helm of the White House in 2019 will face a number of legal battles and a tough re-election campaign. The criminal investigation into potential collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia is expected to produce a report on its findings within the next year.
Meanwhile Mr Trump is facing allegations that he directed illegal hush money payments to women ahead of the 2016 election.
Some Democrats, who now hold the majority in the House of Representatives, have vowed to launch impeachment proceedings against the president if they find evidence of wrongdoing.