White House chief of staff John Kelly has loosened his grip amid a worsening relationship with President Trump, Politico reported late Sunday.
The news outlet reported that Kelly has essentially given up on trying to control the president’s impulses. He told at least one person that he will let the president do what he wants, even if it results in impeachment.
{mosads}Kelly, who served as the secretary of Homeland Security prior to becoming chief of staff, reportedly warned current Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, his chief of staff while he led the department, against attending Monday’s White House press briefing.
Nielsen fielded questions on the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that has led to the separation of thousands of migrant children from their parents. She defended the policy and declared “Congress alone can fix it,” despite the practice resulting from an order from Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
The relationship between Kelly and Trump has soured over the course of the last several months. Multiple media reports have indicated the chief of staff could leave the White House, and that Trump has grown unhappy with him.
In April, Kelly denied a report that he called Trump an “idiot.”
“I spend more time with the president than anyone else and we have an incredibly candid and strong relationship,” Kelly said at the time.
“I am committed to the president, his agenda, and our country,” he added. “This is another pathetic attempt to smear people close to President Trump and distract from the administration’s many successes.”