Nick Ayers, the leading candidate to replace John Kelly as President Donald Trump’s chief of staff, will not be taking the job, a White House official told CNN Sunday.
Ayers’ not taking the job came as a surprise since he had been lobbying for the position the sources said. There was resistance to him being appointed from first lady Melania Trump and some senior staff, the sources said.
Ayers, who has been considered a top contender to succeed Kelly for more than six months, will leave his position at the end of the year, announcing the move in a tweet on Sunday afternoon.
