Off-The-Rails Trump Wanted To Fire John Kelly And Appoint Himself Chief Of Staff

In the latest indication that Donald Trump has gone completely off the rails as his administration implodes around him, a new report reveals that the president considered firing chief of staff John Kelly and appointing himself to the post.

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According to NBC News, “[T]he president envisioned a scenario in which a handful of top aides would report directly to him — bypassing the traditional gatekeeper position.”

More from the head-scratching report:

In the midst of a Cabinet shake-up and a possible staff upheaval, President Donald Trump considered firing his chief of staff this month and not naming a successor, according to three people familiar with the discussions. Trump has mused to close associates about running the West Wing as he did his business empire, essentially serving as his own chief of staff, these people said.

 

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Trump, who is said to always be reimagining his staff positions, appears to have tabled the suggestion for now. His second chief of staff, John Kelly, remains in his role after intense speculation about his job security. But the president was intrigued by, and seriously considered, the idea of not replacing him had he left.

 

Trump liked the idea particularly because it would be more in line with how the former CEO conducted business in the private sector: with a more open-door policy that allowed him unfettered access to outsiders and fewer roadblocks to decision making.

As The Hill reported on Thursday, “The report was published hours after former White House senior adviser Stephen Bannon suggested at a Financial Times event that if Kelly were to depart the administration, Trump would not replace him.”

While the president appears to have backed away from this idea, it’s unclear how long his current chief of staff will stick around. If and when Kelly does leave, Trump’s hopes of being his own chief of staff could come true.

Having “fewer roadblocks” for this president is a terrifying idea

Although there is an argument to be made that current chief of staff John Kelly should have already been fired or stepped down, particularly following the Robert Porter controversy, the idea of having “fewer roadblocks” for Trump is even more terrifying.

This administration is full of people unqualified for their positions – see Betsy DeVos, Rick Perry, Ben Carson, among so many others – but the staff changes in recent weeks have targeted those in the administration that have been voices of moderation, particularly on foreign policy matters. Nowhere is that clearer than today’s resignation of H.R. McMaster.

This revolving door of White House officials is not new. From this administration’s infancy, staffers have been flowing in and out of the administration. This is just not a president that many people want to work for, and if they do end up working for him, they don’t want to for long.

Sadly, the one position that does need a real shake-up – the office of the President of the United States – continues to be occupied by one of the most incompetent and corrupt individuals.

Sean Colarossi

Sean Colarossi currently resides in Cleveland, Ohio. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and was an organizing fellow for both of President Obama’s presidential campaigns. He also worked with Planned Parenthood as an Affordable Care Act Outreach Organizer in 2014, helping northeast Ohio residents obtain health insurance coverage.