President Trump believes that the White House is a “hot” place to work. But there is at least one person who has recently made the decision not to take a position in the Trump administration.
Nick Ayers, President Trump’s first choice to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, has declined to take the job, according to three people familiar with the situation.
Mr. Ayers, 36, the chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence, is expected to leave the administration in the coming weeks. His family is returning to Georgia, according to people familiar with his plans.
So that means that is is now unclear just who will take the top spot in the West Wing job. This will be a significant role as President Trump begins making plans to enter the 2020 campaign for reelection and his second term. Trump is also facing growing danger from the special counsel investigation into Russian election interference and from Democrats who have vowed tougher oversight after they take control of the House next month.
Mr. Ayers had told the president that he would do the job on an interim basis, through the spring. But Mr. Trump wants a permanent chief of staff as he heads into the biggest fight of his political life.
MSNBC posted this message on Twitter:
“JUST IN: Nick Ayers is no longer in the running to replace White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. President Trump and Ayers could not come to an agreement over the timeframe for Ayers to serve as acting chief of staff, according to a source familiar with the conversation.”
JUST IN: Nick Ayers is no longer in the running to replace White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. President Trump and Ayers could not come to an agreement over the timeframe for Ayers to serve as acting chief of staff, according to a source familiar with the conversation. pic.twitter.com/7Dfbz1hpw2
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 9, 2018
Others seen as possible choices for chief of staff include the Treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin; Mr. Trump’s budget director, Mick Mulvaney; and the United States trade representative, Robert Lighthizer.
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