Administration

Mulvaney: Trump ‘absolutely not’ discussing Kelly’s departure

White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney said in a Sunday morning interview that President Trump and administration officials are “absolutely not” discussing chief of staff John Kelly’s departure from the West Wing.

“Absolutely not,” Mulvaney responded on “Fox News Sunday” when asked if the president or others in the White House have spoken to him about replacing the chief of staff.

{mosads}Kelly, who is Trump’s second chief of staff, has been under fire the past few days over the administration’s handling of White House staff secretary Rob Porter’s resignation. Porter resigned last week due to allegations of domestic abuse by his two ex-wives. 

“I think that talk about the chief’s departure is much ado about nothing,” Mulvaney said Sunday.

Mulvaney argued that those who are suggesting Kelly could soon leave the White House are individuals “unhappy that they’ve lost access to the president” since Kelly took charge of the West Wing. 

“There’s a lot of good things that have been happening since the chief is there,” Mulvaney added.