WASHINGTON 91裸聊视频� 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 Priebus91裸聊视频� fate, Trump tweeted the decision just as he landed in Washington after an event in New York in which he lavishly praised Kelly91裸聊视频檚 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.
Trump91裸聊视频檚 announcement on Twitter: 91裸聊视频淚 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 91裸聊视频� and a Great Leader. John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my Administration.91裸聊视频�
He also saluted Priebus, the chief of staff he had just pushed out.
91裸聊视频淚 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!91裸聊视频�
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington, Trump said: 91裸聊视频淩eince is a good man. John Kelly will do a fantastic job.91裸聊视频�
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 Trump91裸聊视频檚 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 Priebus91裸聊视频� objections.
Priebus91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渓eakers91裸聊视频� that Trump has railed against. The New Yorker published an interview Thursday in which Scaramucci called Priebus, amid an avalanche of vulgarity, a 91裸聊视频減aranoid schizophrenic91裸聊视频�
Both Scaramucci and Priebus travelled to New York91裸聊视频檚 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 reporters91裸聊视频� shouted questions.
From day one, Priebus91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渆qual partners91裸聊视频� 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
