This article originally appeared on TIMEPresident Donald Trump has replaced chief of staff Reince Priebus, he said late Friday on Twitter, replacing him with Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly.
The announcement came after the failure of the Republican health care repeal bill, and as White House personnel drama exploded in dramatic fashion. Priebus had increasingly been the subject of Trump’s ire, as his agenda has been stalled on Capitol Hill.
I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American....
The former Republican National Committee chairman has repeatedly clashed with new White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who had threatened to push Priebus out of the White House. Priebus allies in the White House have been under pressure for months, with former Press Secretary Sean Spicer resigning last week after Scaramucci’s hiring.
Priebus accompanied Trump on a trip to New York Friday afternoon, and Trump’s tweet was sent as the pair were on Air Force One returning to Washington.
Nearly all White House staffers, including several Assistants to the President, were unaware of the news before Trump tweeted.
