Newly-named chief of staff John Kelly. The US president on Friday
announced via Twitter that he had picked Kelly to replace outgoing chief
of staff Reince Priebus, rumored for weeks to be on the verge of being
sacked. AFP PHOTO | SAUL LOEB
President Donald Trump attends a swearing-in ceremony Monday for
his newly-named chief of staff John Kelly, appointed as part of a
shakeup meant to instil order at a fractious White House bereft so far
of major legislative achievements.
Trump was scheduled
to take part in a 9:30 am (1330 GMT) ceremony for Kelly, a retired
four-star marine general who had been his Homeland Security secretary.
The US president on Friday announced via Twitter that he had picked Kelly to replace outgoing chief of staff Reince Priebus, rumored for weeks to be on the verge of being sacked.
The chief of staff traditionally manages the president's schedule and is the highest ranking White House employee, deciding who has access to the president.
The US president on Friday announced via Twitter that he had picked Kelly to replace outgoing chief of staff Reince Priebus, rumored for weeks to be on the verge of being sacked.
The chief of staff traditionally manages the president's schedule and is the highest ranking White House employee, deciding who has access to the president.
Obamacare
The
shakeup was made public one day after the Senate failed — to Trump's
great frustration — to pass a bill repealing Obamacare, a key campaign
pledge by the billionaire businessman during his White House run.
The staffing overhaul has been greeted with relief by some in Washington who have been alarmed by a White House often criticized as undisciplined and wracked by leaks and internal squabbles.
The staffing overhaul has been greeted with relief by some in Washington who have been alarmed by a White House often criticized as undisciplined and wracked by leaks and internal squabbles.
"I think
he will bring some order and discipline to the West Wing," one prominent
Republican, US Senator Susan Collins, told NBC television on Sunday.
Scandals
Since taking office six months ago, Trump's tumultuous administration has seen a succession of negative headlines and brewing scandals.
Since taking office six months ago, Trump's tumultuous administration has seen a succession of negative headlines and brewing scandals.
Adding
to the chaos, the president has parted with a number of top officials
including his national security advisor, deputy national security
advisor and FBI director among others — an unparalleled turnover for
such a young presidency.
Just one week before sacking
Priebus, Trump dismissed his chief spokesman Sean Spicer and announced
that he had hired a Washington outsider, brash Wall Street financier
Anthony Scaramucci, to run his communications operation.
Washington
insiders surmise that the decision to move Kelly from the helm of the
Homeland Security Department may be part of a strategic effort by the
president to inoculate himself from the widening investigation into
Russia's attempt to influence the 2016 election.
They
have speculated that Trump may be planning to have his Attorney General
Jeff Sessions — who heads up the Justice Department — replace Kelly as
secretary of homeland security in a bid to thwart the probe, which many
believe threatens his presidency.
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