Trump meets Christie as some advisers urge Kushner for chief of staff: sources

By Steve Holland

 

FILE PHOTO: (L-R) Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka Trump pose for a picture after Kushner received the Order of the Aztec Eagle from Pena Nieto before the G20 leaders summit in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 30, 2018. Mexico Presidency/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Thursday met with former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and considered him a top contender for the job of White House chief of staff, a position some advisers urged him to give to senior aide Jared Kushner, sources said.A source familiar with Trump's thinking said the president had a positive meeting with Christie, confirming a report by Axios.com, and considered him a top-tier candidate for the position.

 

Christie, a brash, tough-talking politician, was a contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but abandoned the attempt after a poor showing in the New Hampshire primary and subsequently endorsed Trump, becoming his adviser throughout the 2016 campaign.

 

Other sources said Trump was hearing appeals from some advisers to consider Kushner, a top White House aide who is married to Trump's daughter Ivanka, for the chief of staff job.

 

But one source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Kushner was currently not inclined to pursue the position.

 

On Thursday, Trump said he was considering as many as five people to fill the vacancy that will be left when his current chief, retired General John Kelly, leaves the job early in the new year.

 

One source said that over the last few days "numerous people have reached out to the president to suggest" picking Kushner on the thinking that he is close to the president and has had a number of successes, such as helping negotiate a new trade pact with Mexico and Canada and advancing prison reform legislation.

 

"I'm not aware that he's under consideration," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders told reporters. "But as I think all of us here would recognize, he will be great in any role that the president chooses to put him in."

 

"He has done a tremendous job on a number of fronts, whether it was on trade or what we've seen play out over the last week on criminal justice reform. He's done a great job on all those efforts," Sanders said.

 

Those urging Kushner include some of the president's outside advisers and some administration officials, the source said.

 

"It's possible that this is why this is appearing at this moment in time, especially because what everyone knows you need is someone who has a good relationship with the president," the source said.

 

But Kushner is happy with the work he is doing. "He's not currently inclined to pursue it," the source added.

 

Kushner and wife Ivanka had been advocating for Nick Ayers, the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence. But Ayers turned down an offer for the position last weekend because he could not commit to the full two years Trump wanted.

 

One Trump confidant, who asked to remain unidentified, said Trump should just pick his son-in-law.

 

"You want consistency, knowing he'll be here for two more years, just name Jared and let him do it the way he wants," the confidant told Reuters.

 

Another potential pick as chief of staff, former campaign adviser David Bossie, was at the White House for meetings on Thursday, but was not believed to have met with the president.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Leslie Adler and Clarence Fernandez)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-12-14

Kushner, seriously? Mueller appears to have him in his sights.

Amazing that there are still people out there risking their careers with this administration. 

Looking at the photo, Ivanka's hands are bigger than Donald's.

15 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Looking at the photo, Ivanka's hands are bigger than Donald's.

 

On the flip side, his boobs, and butt, are bigger.

 

Is this the way to Amarillo then?

A post with a misspelling of a person's name has been removed.  If you do not want your post to be removed, spell people's names correctly. 

2 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Is this the way to Amarillo then?

Sorry

Edited December 14, 20187 yr by wgdanson

Having Jared and/or Ivanka as CoS seems to make sense as both of them have undermined both Reince Priebus and Gen. Kelly. This assumes that they won't then stab each other in the back.

 

They were pushing for Nick Ayers, even though it is widely rumored that he authored the anonymous "I am part of the resistance..." NYT Op-Ed back in early September.

 

Other than Jose Canseco, I can't imagine any other non-family member who would want this job?

 

http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25524155/jose-canseco-makes-pitch-chief-staff-job-tweet-trump

 

 

2 hours ago, zydeco said:

Looking at the photo, Ivanka's hands are bigger than Donald's.

You are observant. Maybe she plays a bigger piano..

Notice also that recent photos of Mr Trump show him with Jacket undone. 

Big belly or big buttons that Mr Trump can't get his fingers around.

 At least in this photo he is not leaning all over the daughter. 

But why is she in all the photo ops. 

The little old lady back home in the kitchen where she belongs with that fexed plastic stare?

I suggest Criss Angel Mindfreak.

Think of the ratings.

"Five people, terrific people, mostly well-known"

 

David Dennison

Steven Segal

Gary Busey

Meat Loaf

Dennis Rodman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surely not Kushner - that would be keeping it in the family! (son-in-law)

Chris Christie put Jared's dad in the slammer, think there's a lingering hatred?

 

 

 

 

I am thinking that those pushing for Kushner are just stirring the pot. He is heading about 20 agencies/departments now. The amusement will be the interaction between the favorite son-in-law and the shoot from the hip-its all about me, egomaniac President. 

8 hours ago, webfact said:

One source said that over the last few days "numerous people have reached out to the president to suggest" picking Kushner on the thinking that he is close to the president and has had a number of successes, such as...... ...... and advancing prison reform legislation.

Well he’s obviously smart enough to effect something in regards to the families potential new accommodation situation, so perhaps it’s not that bad an idea.... ????

Only the best people Donald?really?really?what a farce

I never realised he wanted to drain the swamp in order to fill job vacancies.

Here's a headline from Slate.com:

Trump Is Considering Jared Kushner for Chief of Staff Because He’s Been So Good at Everything Else

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/12/trump-is-considering-jared-kushner-for-chief-of-staff-because-hes-been-so-good-at-everything-else.html

 

I suspect he got the Mexican president to stand closer to the camera to make the rest of them look taller.

 

I'm disappointed Christie is not taking the job, he would have added so much entertainment value to the show.  Piers Morgan would be great, we know what he's kissed previously, but probably wouldn't get security clearance. 

Piers Morgan coming to the US is the most egregious act by the UK against the USA since the War of 1812.

 

 

7 hours ago, Tug said:

Only the best people Donald?really?really?what a farce

 

Hey, this is the great businessman/dealer maker here!

On a penny-to-penny pound-for-pound basis hiring Christie is like getting 3 guys for one salary -- now that's a deal!

Problem would be if DT is abusive to him Greenpeace would step in.

 

 

3 hours ago, bendejo said:

Piers Morgan coming to the US is the most egregious act by the UK against the USA since the War of 1812.

My dear chap, I know, and many of us who hold the USA in high regard, are somewhat embarrassed that it has happened.

 

However, the chance to get rid of him from the British " conmentariat" was really too good to miss, and honestly, having looked at the current state of affairs in and around The White House we didn't really think anyone would notice!

 

Sorry...

Edited December 15, 20187 yr by JAG