WASHINGTON 香蕉视频直播� President Donald Trump announced Friday he was appointing Homeland Security head John Kelly to be White House chief of staff, ending the tumultuous six-month tenure of Reince Priebus.
After months of speculation about Priebus香蕉视频直播� fate, Trump tweeted the decision just as he landed in Washington after an event in New York in which he lavishly praised Kelly香蕉视频直播檚 performance at Homeland Security.
Priebus, the former Republican National Committee head, was the frequent target of rumours about his job security, the victim of a long whisper campaign by Trump allies and the subject of a remarkable public rebuke this week by the new White House communications director.
Trump香蕉视频直播檚 announcement on Twitter: 香蕉视频直播淚 am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American 香蕉视频直播� and a Great Leader. John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my Administration.香蕉视频直播�
He also saluted Priebus, the chief of staff he had just pushed out.
香蕉视频直播淚 would like to thank Reince Priebus for his service and dedication to his country. We accomplished a lot together and I am proud of him!香蕉视频直播�
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, Trump said: 香蕉视频直播淩eince is a good man. John Kelly will do a fantastic job.香蕉视频直播�
Kelly is a retired Marine four-star general.
Priebus never could bring a semblance of order to the team of in-fighting rivals that populate Trump香蕉视频直播檚 West Wing, and questions about his future have long swirled around the office. Those questions sharply escalated this week with the arrival of Anthony Scaramucci, the hard-charging communications director who was hired over Priebus香蕉视频直播� objections.
Priebus香蕉视频直播� already tense relationship with Scaramucci took a darker turn over the past two days when the communications chief suggested in a late-night tweet that Priebus was one of the 香蕉视频直播渓eakers香蕉视频直播� that Trump has railed against. The New Yorker published an interview Thursday in which Scaramucci called Priebus, amid an avalanche of vulgarity, a 香蕉视频直播減aranoid schizophrenic香蕉视频直播�
Both Scaramucci and Priebus travelled to New York香蕉视频直播檚 Long Island with Trump on Friday for an event where the president highlighted efforts to crack down on the gang MS-13. Priebus took the return flight to Washington, his fate sealed in the tweets that were sent by the president just as he stepped off the plane. Priebus did not respond to reporters香蕉视频直播� shouted questions.
From day one, Priebus香蕉视频直播� power has been limited compared with past officials with his title. In a highly unusual arrangement, Trump said at the outset that Priebus and chief strategist Steve Bannon would serve as 香蕉视频直播渆qual partners香蕉视频直播� in implementing his agenda.
Priebus, who hails from Wisconsin and has deep ties House Speaker Paul Ryan, had grown increasingly isolated in the White House, as past Republican National Committee colleagues and other allies have left or been pushed out of the West Wing. Those who have departed include former deputy chief of staff Katie Walsh, outgoing press secretary Sean Spicer and press aide Michael Short.
Scaramucci was the latest top aide to be granted a direct line to Trump, and it became increasingly unclear who actually reported to Priebus.
Jonathan Lemire And Jill Colvin, The Associated Press
