President Trump’s personal assistant abruptly stepped down on Thursday.
The departure of Madeleine Westerhout, who was widely regarded as Trump’s “gatekeeper” and had been stationed at the front of the Oval Office, was reported by the New York Times.
Recommended Stories
The report said Westerhout was considered a “separated employee” and would not be allowed back in the White House after the president found out she “indiscreetly” divulged information about the Trump family and Oval Office operations in a recent off-the-record dinner with reporters in Bedminster, New Jersey, where Trump had a working vacation.
Westerhout, who is in her late 20s, was the subject of a Washington Post profile in September 2018, which documented her rise from Trump Tower “greeter girl” during the transition period to being executive assistant to the president. In a conversation with Watergate sleuth Bob Woodward, Trump described her as being “the key” and “the secret” to reaching him.
In November, Westerhout was one of six White House aides warned by the Office of Special Counsel for violating the Hatch Act by using their government Twitter accounts to engage in political activity.
