36-year-old chief of staff plans to replace John Kelly

Nick Ayers could almost be confused for a brother of the university fraternity as he smiled broadly in a selfie taken with Mike Pence a few moments after the governor of Indiana was named vice president of Donald Trump. In fact, the child-faced campaign strategist, dressed in a white undergarment, played a pivotal role in Mr. Trump's selection of Pence in 2016. And two years later, the Ayers' connection with Pence is stronger than ever, as is his relationship with the president.

A seasoned veteran at the age of 36, Ayers is emerging as one of the leading candidates for the replacement of the White House. Chief of Staff John Kelly, whose departure has long been the subject of speculation.

If he was selected, Ayers would regain a political stature as President Trump enters a new, more perilous phase during which he fights for re-election while repudiating new House oversight efforts. democratic.

In any administration, the role of the White House Chief of Staff is divided between the responsibilities of overseeing the White House and managing the man sitting in the Oval Office. The achievement of this balance in the turbulence of President Trump has caused confusion among Kelly and his predecessor, Reince Priebus. If Ayers becomes the third person to occupy this position, it will be his biggest challenge – and one of his friends says he is well-equipped to handle it.

"He's doing just like anything I've ever seen," said Phil Cox, a former colleague of the Republican Governor's Association, who bought the Ayers policy consultancy earlier. this year.

It is said that Mr Trump warmed up in Ayers by partly observing the effectiveness of the largely independent Pence political operation. Chief of Staff of the Vice President for 18 months, Ayers has secured the support of Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, daughter and son-in-law of the president, and senior advisers, for taking on this new role, officials said in a statement. White House.

Ayers would be the youngest chief of staff since Hamilton Jordan, 34, served under Jimmy Carter.

But before Ayers can lead his team to the White House, he must first overcome the opposition of those who could soon work for him.

On Sunday's Air Force One, as Mr. Trump returned to the United States after a turbulent two-day trip to Paris, councilors told the president that Ayers was the wrong person for the job, according to two people close to the US. folder, The Associated. Press reports. More than half a dozen administrative assistants have spoken to Ayers on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue of staff, reports the reporter. AP.

In parts of the White House, Ayers is skeptical about how he ran Pence's office, which functions largely independently of the Trump West Wing. Some at the White House blame Ayers for publishing critical articles about the administration or its strategies, while others complain about its efforts to circumvent the political functioning of the president. . Some helpers have started calling it "Tricky Nicky".

Ayers did not respond to an interview request from the Associated Press. But the allies said he was eager to hold the post of chief of staff. Mr. Trump and he are discussing the possibility of making this change for months.

The Allied countries stated that Ayers did not have as thorough knowledge of foreign policy as some of his predecessors, but that he had gained experience as a consultant in international relations. He has often participated in Mr. Trump's daily briefings on intelligence, sometimes even in the absence of Pence.

The timing of Kelly's departure is unclear, but White House officials predict it will run parallel to the planned release of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kirstjen Nielsen In the coming months. Sources close to the case told CBS News that Nielsen would leave, but say the timing is uncertain. Last month, Trump praised his reaction to devastating hurricanes. She vigorously defended the president 's policies, particularly in the area of ​​immigration.

But sources said she could be a victim of the president's frustration over the blockage of her immigration program.

However, White House senior advisor Kellyanne Conway attempted to question on Tuesday the anonymously reported information about a staff reshuffle.

"Why do they remain anonymous, could it not be completely verified and true?" she says.