Trump Names DHS' Kelly WH Chief Of Staff
WASHINGTON (AP/KDKA) - President Donald Trump says Gen. John F. Kelly is his new White House chief of staff.
That means Reince Priebus is out.
Trump tweeted: "I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American."
I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
Kelly is currently the secretary of Homeland Security.
Trump tweeted that Kelly "has been a true star of my administration."
Trump later tweeted thanking Reince Priebus for his service, saying, "We accomplished a lot together and I am proud of him!"
I would like to thank Reince Priebus for his service and dedication to his country. We accomplished a lot together and I am proud of him!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2017
Priebus traveled with Trump earlier in the day to an appearance in Brentwood, New York. Trump thanked him for his service and "dedication to his country."
Trump says Priebus is a "good man," making the comment to reporters after his tweets.
He added of the retired Marine general: "John Kelly will do a fantastic job."
Priebus' hold on the White House job has long been in question, more so this week after Trump's new communications director badmouthed him to a reporter for the New Yorker. Trump hired Anthony Scaramucci over Priebus's objections and Scaramucci reports directly to the president.
Priebus says that he formally resigned from his job after it became clear the president wanted to go in a different direction.
Priebus tells CNN that he resigned on Thursday. Priebus says he intends to continue working at the White House for a couple of weeks to ease the transition of his replacement.
Priebus calls Kelly a "brilliant pick" and says he himself remains a Trump fan.
Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary and new White House chief of staff John Kelly is thanking the staff at DHS for the opportunity to serve as their secretary.
Kelly says in a statement that, when he left the Marines, he never thought he would find as committed, as professional, as patriotic a group of individuals. He says he was wrong.
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(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
