Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney is expected to step down after the Senate’s impeachment trial, Politico reports.
Five Trump aides and associates told the outlet that Mulvaney is expected to leave the White House after weeks of lobbying from the president’s inner circle to find a new chief of staff ahead of his re-election campaign.
Trump aides have circulated lists of potential replacements for weeks.
“Mulvaney no longer wields much control over White House staff. Lately, he has been left out of major personnel and policy decisions, and he is not driving the strategy on impeachment even though he occupies what is historically the most powerful job in the West Wing,” Politico reported.
“He’s like a kid. His role at the dinner table is to be seen and not heard,” a Republican close to the White House told the outlet.
Mulvaney under fire after admitting quid pro quo:
Trump’s views on Mulvaney soured more than usual after Mulvaney admitted to a quid pro quo with Ukraine before trying to walk his comments back.
Mulvaney’s allies told the outlet that he helped improve morale in the West Wing and had a better relationship with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner than his predecessors. He also helped improve the policy process to push through the USMCA trade deal and the China trade deal.
“Mulvaney also urged Trump late last year to shut down the government as leverage to land additional funding for a border wall, a move that backfired politically on Republicans,” Politico reported. “Trump had to reopen the government 35 days later with no tangible wins and with the distinction of overseeing the longest government shutdown in history.”
Is Mark Meadows next chief of staff?:
Rep. Mark Meadows, the former head of the House Freedom Caucus, announced on Thursday that he would not seek re-election and may leave before the end of his term to help Trump.
Politico reports that the news was viewed by Trump’s inner circle as Meadows stepping up as “Trump’s chief of staff in waiting” who would be “ready to assume the position in a second term if Trump wins re-election.”
Meadows has already been spotted around the West Wing in recent weeks and has closely consulted with Kushner during the House impeachment process.
