Reince Priebus lasted six months as Chief of Staff and now it’s been six months for John Kelly as well, and Kelly’s in the doghouse to a much greater extent than Priebus ever was. Rumors are flying of Kelly being ousted. Successors are being discussed and they include Gary Cohn, Jason Miller, and Mick Mulvaney. CNBC:
This time, the name popping up as a potential successor is Mick Mulvaney, director of the administration's Office of Management and Budget and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Mulvaney, a Republican former congressman from South Carolina who positions himself as a fiscal conservative, has seen his star rise in an administration often rocked by chaos and staff turnover. CNN reported that Mulvaney's profile grew even bigger during negotiations over government spending.
The New York Times reported that Trump is upset with Kelly for creating unwelcome attention this week as the chief of staff called immigrants "lazy" and defended Porter. Citing two sources, the Times reported that Trump has asked advisors about what they think about Mulvaney possibly becoming chief of staff.
CNN backed up the Times, reporting that the president has been asking aides about their opinion of Mulvaney, although the news network said Trump has been "coy" when seeking aides' thoughts on the matter. Yet, CNN added that most of the advisors assume that Trump is referring to the chief of staff spot.
Mulvaney has been busy mishandling the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which is now without protections for people of color and Mulvaney recently took the side of pay day lenders charging usurious rates. Plus don’t forget that the Acting Director of the CFPB, Leandra English, is suing to determine whether Mulvaney can remain in that office.
But there’s another reason why Mulvaney may be valuable to Trump as a Chief of Staff and that is because Mulvaney’s been doing Trump’s dirty work for quite some time
Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) told the Charleston Post & Courier last March how Trump sent his budget director Mick Mulvaney to threaten him with being primaried if he refused to back the Republican plan to repeal and replace Obamacare. According to Sanford, Mulvaney said, “The president asked me to look you square in the eyes and to say that he hoped that you voted ‘no’ on this bill so he could run against you in 2018.” Sanford explained, “I’ve never had anyone, over my time in politics, put it to me as directly as that.”
Trump has said he wants “a killer” as Chief of Staff and he has openly moaned, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?” meaning that he feels he’s needs someone hated and feared to protect his interests. Maybe Mulvaney is just the guy.
The West Wing needs a revolving door.