Republicans call on new Trump chief of staff to fix White House chaos

[webfact]

Republicans call on new Trump chief of staff to fix White House chaos

By Roberta Rampton

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump (L) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly hold their hands over their hearts for the U.S. National Anthem as they attend the Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremonies where Trump addressed the graduating class in New London, Connecticut, U.S., May 17, 2017. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo - RTX368KW

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans on Sunday urged President Donald Trump's new chief of staff John Kelly to rein in the chaos within the White House on Monday but said the retired Marine Corps general will be challenged to assert control.

 

In his first six months in office, Trump has upended White House convention with a loose decision-making style and an open-door policy to his Oval Office for advisers, both internal and external. Infighting among his senior staff has become bitter and public.

 

"He's going to have to reduce the drama, reduce both the sniping within and reduce the leaks, and bring some discipline to the relationships," Karl Rove, a Republican strategist and former White House adviser to George W. Bush, said on "Fox News Sunday."

 

Trump announced Kelly would replace his embattled chief of staff Reince Priebus at the end of a particularly chaotic week that saw his first legislative effort - healthcare reform - fail in Congress.

 

"He (Trump) is in a lot of trouble. This week was the most tumultuous week we’ve seen in a tumultuous presidency," Rove said.

 

On top of the healthcare debacle, Trump came under fire for banning transgender people from the military, and was pilloried for politicizing a speech he made to the Boy Scouts.

 

Adding fuel to the fire, his new communications director Anthony Scaramucci unleashed a string of profane criticism about Priebus and Trump strategist Steven Bannon to a New Yorker magazine reporter.

 

Republicans welcomed Trump's decision to bring in Kelly, who starts on Monday.

 

"I think he will bring some order and discipline to the West Wing," said Republican Senator Susan Collins and Trump critic on NBC's "Meet the Press."

 

The last week heightened concerns in Trump's party that the distractions and West Wing dysfunction would derail other legislative priorities, including tax reform and debt ceiling negotiations.

 

White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney said he thought Priebus had been effective "but was probably a little bit more laid back” in the way he ran the office.

 

"I think the president wants to go in a different direction, wants a little bit more discipline, a little more structure in there," said Mulvaney, who reports to the chief of staff.

 

It is not yet clear whether all of Trump's senior staff will answer to Kelly. Some members, including Scaramucci and senior counsellor Kellyanne Conway, report directly to Trump, a structure which gives them more power.

 

"I will do whatever the president and our new chief of staff General Kelly ask me to do," Conway told Fox News' "Fox News Sunday."

 

Kelly should be empowered to be the gatekeeper to the Oval Office, said Mike Huckabee, the former Republican governor of Arkansas, whose daughter Sarah Sanders is Trump's spokeswoman.

 

"That's what needs to happen, but that's going to be up to the president," Huckabee said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."

 

"The president has a very different style, he's very open, the door is open, he invites people to just come on it to a meeting," Huckabee said.

 

To be effective, Kelly needs to find a way to work within Trump's untraditional style, said Corey Lewandowski, who was a former campaign manager to Trump, and remains close to the president.

 

"The thing that General Kelly should do is not try to change Donald Trump," Lewandowski said on NBC's "Meet the Press."

 

"Anybody who thinks they're going to change Donald Trump doesn't know Donald Trump," Lewandowski said.

 

(Additional reporting by Susan Cornwell, Sarah N. Lynch, and Caren Bohan; Editing by Mary Milliken)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-07-31

[sirineou]

Organising a cat parade

 

 

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"I will do whatever the president and our new chief of staff General Kelly ask me to do," Conway told Fox News' "Fox News Sunday."

Senior Counsellor Conway: unquestioning, robotic, programmed and unoriginal

My counsel to the counsellor: If you have a brain, use it before you do "whatever"

[bendejo]

 

 

[dunroaming]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republicans on Sunday urged President Donald Trump's new chief of staff John Kelly to rein in the chaos within the White House on Monday but said the retired Marine Corps general will be challenged to assert control.

The first way to rein in the chaos is to get rid of Trump.  Then you are left with Pence who brings his own brand of lunacy.  In other words the US is screwed, for the time being anyway.

[Becker]

As he can't fix stupid he can't fix the WH. There's no fixing the man-child except removing him from power.

[Stargeezr]

Hey  the USA  can have the PM of Canada,  after all the Rolling Stones magazine seem

to think he is just peachy,  and hey he even has nice hair.

Geezer

[ilostmypassword]

4 minutes ago, Stargrazer9889 said:

Hey  the USA  can have the PM of Canada,  after all the Rolling Stones magazine seem

to think he is just peachy,  and hey he even has nice hair.

Geezer

Do you know that there are medicines out there to treat ADD?

[Stargeezr]

YesI know,  but not here on this forum.

Geezer

[Rancid]

The same Republicans that just usurped the Presidents power over foreign policy with the Russia sanctions bill? The same Republicans, of whom many actually supported war monger Hillary? And the same ones that can't even organize themselves to repeal Obamacare? Well you would certainly have to listen to them.

[spidermike007]

The very white house had needed a strongman to lead the place, from the beginning. Preibus could not possibly have been a worse choice. He was weak, ineffective, soft, and nobody respected him. Kelly is a well respected man, with a remarkable resume. And my guess is that he will not hesitate to bury his foot deep up some butts, if it is needed. And he might even slap some people around, which is much needed. Hopefully, he will apply the same to the deflector in chief. He needs it. More than likely nobody has ever stood up to him, except for the two wives he has divorced. And the house and senate. If he is not able to reign things in, my prediction is that within 90 days there is a strong possibility of a revolt in the house and senate. If that happens he is finished, as he will be unable to achieve anything. Much like the first six months.