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Trump administration departure list: Everyone who has been fired by Trump or quit since he took office

More than two dozen senior figures have left White House over the past two years

Adam Forrest
Sunday 09 December 2018 17:43 GMT
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John Kelly will leave post as White House chief of staff by end of year says Donald Trump

Donald Trump is set to announce his third chief of staff next week after revealing John Kelly would be leaving at the end of the year.

The president's prime candidate for the job appears to be Nick Ayers, who currently serves in the same role for vice president. Mr Trump has held discussions with Mr Ayers about the job for months, an official told the Associated Press.

More than two dozen senior figures in the administration have now been fired or quit since he took office in January 2017.

Mr Trump has had the highest turnover of senior staff of any of the past five presidents, according to the Brookings Institution think tank.

The growing list of political figures with whom he has parted company reveals two years of acrimony and chaos at the Trump White House. Here’s a run-down of all the firings and resignations.

John Kelly – December 2018. Mr Trump has been in discussions for months about replacing Mr Kelly. The retired Marine Corps general was hired in July 2017 to bring order to the White House, but ultimately fell out with his boss.

Matthew Whitaker – December 2018. He was named acting attorney general in November this year, replacing Jeff Sessions. But he immediately came under scrutiny over past remarks about the investigation into possible Russian collusion with Mr Trump's presidential election campaign. Mr Trump said instead, he would be nominating William Barr as the next attorney general.

Nikki Haley – December 2018. She revealed in October she would be stepping down as US ambassador to the UN at the end of the year. Mr Trump has put forward State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as her successor. She is also subject to Senate review.

Jeff Sessions – November 2018. After months of being attacked and ridiculed by the president, the former senator was forced out as attorney general, having served as the nation’s top law enforcement official since February 2017.

Don McGahn – October 2018. Mr Trump revealed in August that the White House counsel would leave following strains between the two over Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Scott Pruitt – July 2018. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief quit after he came under fire over a series of ethics controversies.

David Shulkin – March 2018. He left his position the Veteran Affairs secretary, telling the media he had been fired rather than resigning.

HR McMaster – March 2018. Mr Trump’s national security adviser was replaced by John Bolton.

Andrew McCabe – March 2018. The deputy FBI director was fired by Jeff Sessions 26 hours before his scheduled retirement. He was accused of leaking information to the media.

Rex Tillerson – March 2018. The secretary of state was fired by the president on after a series rifts. Mr Trump tweeted earlier this month that Mr Tillerson was “dumb as a rock” and “lazy as hell", after

Mr Tillerson was fired in March

Gary Cohn – March 2018. The National Economic Council director and former Goldman Sachs president said he resigned his advisory role.

Hope Hicks – February 2018. The White House communications director, a long-serving and trusted Trump aide, decided to resign.

Rob Porter – February 2018. The White House staff secretary stepped aside following accusations of domestic abuse from former wives.

Omarosa Manigault Newman – December 2017. The former star of The Apprentice was fired as assistant to the president, and would go on to write a book about her time in the White House called Unhinged.

Former reality TV star lasted a year at the White House (Reuters)

Richard Cordray – November 2017. The US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s first director quit his administration role.

Tom Price – September 2017. The Health and Human Services secretary quit under pressure from Mr Trump over travel practices.

Stephen Bannon – August 2017. Mr Trump’s chief strategist was fired in after clashing with other top White House figures, including the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Anthony Scaramucci – July 2017. The White House communications director was fired by Mr Trump after only 10 days on the job. Mr Scaramucci had openly criticised Mr Bannon.

Mr Scaramucci last just 10 days 

Reince Priebus – July 2017. Replaced as chief of staff by John Kelly, Priebus lost Mr Trump’s confidence after setbacks in Congress.

Sean Spicer – July 2017. Resigned as White House press secretary, ending a turbulent six-month tenure.

Walter Shaub – July 2017. The head of the US Office of Government Ethics, who repeatedly clashed with Mr Trump.

Michael Dubke – May 2017. Resigned as White House communications director.

Former FBI director James Comey speaks during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing 

James Comey – May 2017. The FBI director, who led the Russia probe before Mr Mueller, was fired by Mr Trump.

Katie Walsh – March 2017. The deputy White House chief of staff was transferred out to a Republican activist group.

Michael Flynn – February 2017. Resigned in as Mr Trump’s national security adviser. Mr Flynn later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. He is set to be sentenced later in December.

Sally Yates – January 2017. Mr Trump fired the acting US attorney general after she ordered Justice Department lawyers not to enforce is immigration ban.

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