John Kelly's role continues to be diminished, reports Vanity Fair.
The star of Chief of Staff John Kelly is reportedly fading fast now that Bill Shine, a former Fox News executive, has begun working in the White House. Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman reports: "Kelly opposed the hiring of Shine and has seen his role continue to be diminished, sources said, sometimes in humiliating ways." "They've basically stopped telling Kelly when meetings are. People leave him off the calendar," one official with the administration reportedly said. Further, a person described as "a Republican close to the White House" indicated that President Trump hopes Shine's growing presence in the administration will push Kelly to resign.
This piece comes days after the Wall Street Journal reported on Kelly's possible departure.
"Trump is consulting with advisers about whom he should tap as his next chief of staff, with John Kelly expected to depart the administration as early as this summer, possibly soon, according to people familiar with the matter," the Journal noted on June 29.
A Politico story earlier in June reported, citing people close to Kelly, that he and Trump are said to be "barely tolerating one another."
Kelly, who was once seen as the person who would get a chaotic West Wing under control had "largely yielded his role as the enforcer…as his relationship with Trump has soured," the publication said.