WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, frustrated by his staff’s handling of the abuse allegations against Rob Porter, is increasingly venting about Chief of Staff John Kelly and speculating about potential replacements, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
One senior administration official and three other people briefed on those conversations told NBC News Trump is angry at Kelly’s initial statement of effusive support about Porter’s character — and then the quick walkback the next day.
After allegations of physical and verbal abuse were made public by two of Porter’s ex-wives in The Daily Mail, Kelly said in a statement: “Rob Porter is a man of true integrity and honor and I can’t say enough good things about him.” Kelly’s second statement not that “there is no place for domestic violence in our society” but said he stood by his original comments. Porter, who has denied the abuse allegations, left his job as White House staff secretary on Thursday.
At the White House on Friday, Trump spoke favorably about Porter.
“We wish him well,” the president told reporters. “He worked very hard. Found out about it recently and I was surprised by it…Obviously, tough time for him. He did a very good job when he was at the White House.”
The president added, “We hope he has a wonderful career…Very sad when we heard about it. He’s very sad. He also, as you probably know, he says he’s innocent.”
The president is also frustrated about Kelly’s comments that have created headlines — including his statement that Trump’s view on immigration was “evolving” last month and his widely criticized remark this week that some DREAMers were “too lazy” to sign up for DACA.
Two of the sources said the brewing dissatisfaction has Trump openly musing about potential replacements for the chief of staff job. Inside the West Wing, there’s rampant speculation about who those replacements might be.
Among the names being circulated by Trump for chief of staff is current Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, who also heads the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
One of the sources pointed out that the Porter incident could give the president a specific reason to cite if he chooses to remove Kelly, but all four sources caution that it is more likely Kelly stays on the job.
People close to the president have said they witnessed him frequently venting about his advisers, yet doesn’t always pull the trigger on getting rid of them. And the president is leery of another staff shakeup at time. One source also note that Kelly is viewed as the guy “doing all the work.”
One White House staffer said that despite the president’s frustration, “I don’t think he wants to fire anybody because there’s too much drama.”
Trump’s unhappiness isn’t just with Kelly. A source close to the White House told NBC that the president is also frustrated over Communications Director Hope Hicks’ role in the Porter controversy.