Scoop: Trump, irked at cabinet and staff, mulls sweeping shake-up

Source: axios
Published: May 14, 2017
Author: Mike Allen
Post Date: 2017-05-14 08:54:28 by cranky
Views: 4221

At the urging of longtime friends and outside advisers, most of whom he consults after dark, President Trump is considering a "huge reboot" that could take out everyone from Chief of Staff Reince Priebus and chief strategist Steve Bannon, to counsel Don McGahn and press secretary Sean Spicer, White House sources tell me.

Trump is also irritated with several Cabinet members, the sources said.

"He's frustrated, and angry at everyone," said one of the confidants.

The conversations intensified this week as the aftermath of the Comey firing pushed the White House from chaos into crisis. Trump's friends are telling him that many of his top aides don't know how to work with him, and point out that his approval ratings aren't rising, but the leaks are.

"The advice he's getting is to go big — that he has nothing to lose," the confidant said. "The question now is how big and how bold. I'm not sure he knows the answer to that yet."

If Trump follows through, his innermost White House circle would shrink from a loop to a straight line of mid-30s family members with scant governing experience: Jared and Ivanka. So while the fighting and leaking might ease, the problems may not because it's the president, not the staff, calling the shots.

One note of caution: Trump often talks about firing people when things go south and does not follow through on it. So it's possible these conversations are his way of venting, and seeking reassurance.

And it all could take a while: Trump heads out on his first international trip at the end of the week. Also, there's an internal argument for minimizing drama by cutting people out of the information flow rather than firing them. So the existing structure may get "one more college try," a trusted adviser said.,

Friends say that if Trump goes with a grand shakeup, his implicit message would be: "I get it. I'm moving on. I get that I can do a better job." A top aide added: "He's never going to say he did a bad job."

The sources say Trump feels ill-served by not just his staff but also by several of his Cabinet officials. Trump has two complaints about Cabinet members: Either they're tooting their own horns too much, or they're insufficiently effusive in praising him as a brilliant diplomat, etc. Among the cross-currents:

  • His friend Wilbur Ross at Commerce this week took what was perceived as a victory lap on a China trade announcement that does little new in actuality.
  • Attorney General Jeff Sessions made a big announcement about increasing prison sentences, at the same time that Jared is working on criminal-justice reform.
  • HHS Secretary Tom Price shares the blame for the glacial pace of health-care legislation.

No Cabinet member is expected to go this soon, but a West Wing shuffle looks likely. One obstacle to recruiting new top aides is finding people who would have real clout with a president not prone to enforced order.

One of the few top officials winning Trump's praise is SecState Rex Tillerson, who's on "Meet The Press" this morning (taped yesterday in Texas) defending his boss.

This story was first published in Axios AM, our early morning guide to important news in business, politics, tech and media.

Click for Full Text!

Post Comment   Private Reply

#1: paraclete    To: cranky (#0)

He thinks it is a television reality show and we all know the experience Dump Has.

YOU"RE FIRED!

paraclete posted on 2017-05-14 10:01:01   Reply   Private Reply


#2: cranky    To: paraclete (#1)

YOU"RE FIRED!

If that includes his off-spring and in-laws, I'm all for it.

cranky posted on 2017-05-14 10:14:56   Reply   Private Reply


#3: rlk    To: cranky (#0)

If Trump follows through, his innermost White House circle would shrink from a loop to a straight line of mid-30s family members with scant governing experience: Jared and Ivanka.

This country needs more Jareds et al like it needs a second set of Hemmorhoids. They are the problem, not the solution. They are completely divorced from the mainstream functioning of this country.

rlk posted on 2017-05-14 13:52:27   Reply   Private Reply


#4: buckeroo    To: rlk (#3)

This country needs more Jareds et al like it needs a second set of Hemmorhoids. They are the problem, not the solution. They are completely divorced from the mainstream functioning of this country.

but ... but ... you voted for TRUMP! You are part of the problem.

buckeroo posted on 2017-05-14 14:12:20   Reply   Private Reply


#5: rlk    To: buckeroo (#4)

but ... but ... you voted for TRUMP! You are part of the problem.

I voted for Trump because Hillary would have been a more subversive problem. She makes the Marxist counterculture sound like a poem read by a cute perky fashion model. She's a Saul Alinsky with feminine Sex appeal.

rlk posted on 2017-05-14 18:42:16   Reply   Private Reply


#6: buckeroo    To: rlk (#5)

I voted for Trump because Hillary would have been a more subversive problem.

Your admission about not voting your conscience keeps the GOP/DEM party alive.

When are you going to grow up and exercise your true beliefs as a citizen in a failing nation?

buckeroo posted on 2017-05-14 18:58:21   Reply   Private Reply


#7: rlk    To: buckeroo (#6)

When are you going to grow up and exercise your true beliefs as a citizen in a failing nation?

When the nation grows up and institutes parties that exercise quality control over their membership. What the both represent is stages where vaudeville actors can perform to people who like vaudeville actors. It's destroying the country.

Offer me a Ross Perot and I can vote my conscience.

rlk posted on 2017-05-14 21:47:09   Reply   Private Reply


#8: BorisY    To: cranky (#0)

ooops

wrong Thread

love
boris

BorisY posted on 2017-05-14 22:29:27   Reply   Private Reply


#9: cranky    To: rlk (#3)

They are the problem, not the solution.

They're certainly part of it.

Trump needs to keep his promises or the midterm elections could pretty much end his misadventures.

cranky posted on 2017-05-15 15:23:41   Reply   Private Reply