Trump rebuffs claims of chaos in White House after staff departures
TEHRAN(Basirat): US President Donald Trump has rejected claims that the White House is in chaos amid reports of unprecedented staff turnover and high-profile departures.
In a tweet on Tuesday, Trump rebuffed claims of discord among the top ranks in his administration and that the West Wing was spiraling out of control, but also warning of more shake-ups in the future.
"The new Fake News narrative is that there is CHAOS in the White House. Wrong! People will always come & go, and I want strong dialogue before making a final decision," Trump said. "I still have some people that I want to change (always seeking perfection). There is no Chaos, only great Energy!"
Trump made the comments as reports of high-ranking staff departures and negative news stories in the embattled White House hit the headlines over the last few weeks.
White House communications director Hope Hicks announced her resignation a day after she testified before a Congressional intelligence committee about an ongoing probe into Russia’s alleged meddling in the 2016 presidential election that yielded Trump.
The American public relations consultant reportedly told lawmakers she had already told "white lies" for Trump, but never over the Russia probe.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner was stripped of his top security clearance and downgraded from "Top Secret" level to "Secret" level due to procedural changes made by White House chief of staff John Kelly.
US media also reported that Trump had "privately asked” Kelly for help in ousting his daughter, Ivanka, and his husband Kushner from their advisory roles at the White House.
Ivanka and Kushner on several occasions said that the chief of staff was against their presence in the White House.
US National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster is purportedly leaving the administrative circle of Trump, with rumors spreading that Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis might be considering a replacement.
Trump appointed McMaster his national security adviser in February 2017 after Michael Flynn was ousted amid accusations that he lied to Vice President Mike Pence and others about his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the US.
Such issues as the alleged Russian interference in the US 2016 presidential election, immigration, gun laws, conflict with North Korea and import tariffs have sparked turmoil in Washington since the businessman-turned-politician took the helm at the White House.
Trump concluded his first year in office with the lowest approval rating of any first-year president in modern US history.
Last month, an NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed that Trump had averaged just a 39 percent approval rating since his inauguration on January 20, 2017.
His approval rating is lower than his three immediate predecessors – Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton -- at the same point in their time at the White House.
Source:PressTV
