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] It seemed like a closed deal, with only one complication: the post was not open yet John Kelly was still clinging But the White House leaders thought this was finally going to change, saying that they expect Kelly to leave his post. a y day now.
This would seem to pave the way for Ayers. But the delay allowed a one-month lobbying campaign for and against Ayers, 36, who is currently the senior assistant to Vice President Mike Pence. Ayers' critics – who regard him as an ambitious and untrustworthy man – have lobbied Trump for that he does not act on the offer. Some of the White House's top aides even threatened to resign when he did not do it.
"People are threatened by Nick's age and reputation as a young political scientist," said a former White House official. "He has the mentions of Jared [Kushner] Ivanka [Trump] and Pence, but not many fans other than that. This does not mean that the majority of the West Wing will empty, but some staff will leave because of it. "
As a result, it is unclear whether Trump's offer is still valid, although White House officials have stated that no clear alternative has emerged.
Ayers' recalls say it would be a perfect antidote to the political challenges of the next two years, especially the investigations of the Democratic House and the Next 2020 Campaign.
"The problem with Kelly, is that you can not have the least politician in Washington occupying the most political position in Washington. need a Machiavellian killer in good faith. That's what the President needs with him over the next two years, "said a second former White House official, describing Ayers.
A White House official said he did not believe the Ayers' opposition would win, pointing out that Trump is eager to install a more politicized assistant as chief of staff. before the 2020 re-election campaign.
Alex Conant, who worked alongside Ayers on the failure of Tim Pawlenty's candidacy for the 2012 presidential election, paid tribute to Ayers on Friday as a results oriented officer. (Ayers, who led Pawlenty's campaign, was later criticized for his management.)
"If President Trump commits him, I guess it's because Nick is someone who's not." One who runs a narrow ship and will lead a team to get the results, the boss wants, "said Conant, now partner of Firehouse Strategies," He will be able to avoid some of the mistakes made by Kelly and [former chief of staff Reince] Priebus He also knows a ton of politicians, given the breadth of his experience over the past 15 years – not to mention that he is very popular with the donor class. He is young, he brings a lot to any institution. "
In recent days, the internal conversation at the White House has evolved to the best way to grant to Kelly a graceful exit.This takes place five months only And after Trump and Kelly assured his associates that Kelly would stay in place during the 2020 campaign – an assertion that few helpers and advisers believed at the time.
White House officials hope Kelly can resign instead. to be fired by tweet. First Lady Melania Trump urged the president not to dismiss a four-star general, but to let him go as he pleases. His spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Until then, the two assistants and close allies of the White House call Ayers to take his place, although they point out that no decision of Trump is final until the President himself Announced. that an informal job offer is not irreproachable. Meanwhile, Trump – who likes beta testing his personal decisions – asks his confidants their opinion on Ayers since July
Ayers did not respond to a request for comment.
Trump's longtime observers and their allies also point out that it is unlikely that a future chief of staff will radically change the power of a guts-driven president who tries to control him.
"A chief of staff for Donald Trump is a factotum and will have virtually no influence," said Tony Schwartz, who wrote the 1987 book "The Art of Deal" with Trump. "Trump's chief of staff is Trump and he will always be."
Asked about the advice he could have had during his career in business, Trump could have blurred it. Schwartz simply replied, "No and not even close."
Part of Ayers' climb inside the West Wing comes from his own wisdom, his political instinct and his close relationship with the Trump family, but it is partly due to the fact that there are few viable candidates, especially as Trump continues to conduct a major reshuffle of staff before the holidays. [19659004] "I think he understands it by default," said a third former White House official about Ayers: "No one is really an ideal candidate."
Former Leader stated that Mr. Ayers had a number of potential shortcomings, including insufficient knowledge of the policy – although this may not be important in a divided government.
In the White House, Ayers has established close ties with the president by frequently attending the meetings weekly private lunches Trump with the Vice President, where Ayers, Kelly and Pence are usually the only guests of the president. He also bonded with Trump children during the eventful 2016 campaign, during which he acted as an external advisor and consultant before becoming the vice president's chief of staff in July 2017.
Some Other names appeared under the name of Potential candidates for the position of chief of staff, whose Secretary of the Treasury, Steven Mnuchin, also has close relations with Trump's children. Mnuchin, however, told his friends that he was happy to head the Treasury Department.
The outstanding question is whether a chief of staff can work effectively within the Trump administration, in which the president always prefers to direct the show. 19659004] Kelly did her best, said Leon Panetta, the former chief of staff of President Bill Clinton, but "a fundamental problem is that he is dealing with a president who resists any form of discipline which means you are constantly in reactive mode and you must constantly perform repair work. "
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