Rep. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., has made plain he would like to be President Trump’s chief of staff when John Kelly departs this month.
“Serving as [White House] Chief of Staff would be an incredible honor,” Meadows said in a statement to the Washington Examiner. “The President has a long list of qualified candidates and I know he’ll make the best selection for his administration and for the country.”
Trump announced over the weekend that Kelly would be departing the White House at the end of the year. The announcement came as several reports indicated that the relationship had soured and the two were no longer on speaking terms.
Meadows as White House chief of staff could have upsides for Trump. Meadows, first elected to the House in 2012, is the current head of the House Freedom Caucus, a band of conservative lawmakers, and he could help push Trump’s agenda to the Right. The next White House chief of staff will also have to contend with a swath of congressional investigations, and Meadows is an active member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. That panel is expected to be one of Trump’s chief tormentors come 2019, and Meadows would bring insider knowledge of its operations and procedures.
In addition to Meadows, others who have emerged on the short list to replace Kelly include former Trump campaign manager David Bossie and acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker.
The previous front-runner to take Kelly’s position, Vice President Mike Pence’s chief of staff Nick Ayers, is no longer being considered after he and Trump could not agree on a time frame.
Trump wanted a two year commitment from Ayers, but the 36-year-old father of three wanted a shorter time period.
Ayers also announced over the weekend that he would be departing the White House at the end of the year, but would still be working the advance Trump’s cause.
Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. ?? #Georgia
— Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018
