WASHINGTON – After his top choice rejected the job, President Donald Trump scrambled Monday to look for a White House chief of staff from among…
WASHINGTON – After his top choice rejected the job, President Donald Trump scrambled Monday to look for a White House chief of staff from among a wide-open list of potential candidates that includes a prominent member of the current Republican-controlled House.
The list includes at least three already-prominent White House aides: Mick Mulvaney, the White House budget director and interim director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary; and Robert Lighthizer, the U. S. trade representative.
Other candidates, officials said, include Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor and longtime Trump supporter; Matthew Whitaker, the acting attorney general; and David Bossie, a deputy campaign manager for Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Rep. Mark Meadows, D-N. C., chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, expressed interest in the job, saying that “serving as Chief of Staff would be an incredible honor.”
Trump reopened the search after Nick Ayers, the vice president’s chief of staff, turned down the White House job Sunday. Trump now looks again for his third chief of staff in less than two years to replace John Kelly, who is stepping down at the end of the month.
Here’s some background on each of the candidates being mentioned for Trump’s new chief of staff:
Bossie served as Trump’s deputy campaign manager, and has co-written flattering books, including “Trump’s Enemies: How The Deep State Is Undermining the Presidency.”
Bossie is the president and chairman of Citizens United, the group whose Supreme Court case in 2010 shifted the landscape of campaign finance.
Bossie has co-produced six feature-length films with former White House aide Steve Bannon, including “Torchbearer,” which stars Phil Robertson of the A&E reality series Duck Dynasty, according to his bio on Citizens United.
In June, Bossie drew backlash and had to apologize on Twitter after telling black Democratic strategist Joel Payne “you’re out of your cotton-picking mind” while the two were bickering on Fox News.
The former New Jersey governor has been linked to the Trump staff before. A former U. S. attorney, Christie was considered for vice president by Trump in 2016. Then after being fired as head of Trump’s transition team, Christie was passed over for attorney general. Christie also reportedly turned down an appointment as ambassador to Italy and offers to head either Homeland Security or Veteran Affairs.
While governor, Christie implemented a 2 percent cap on municipal spending in an attempt to keep property taxes in check. But there was also controversy. Christie was notably tarred by the Bridgegate scandal, which involved inappropriate closure of the George Washington Bridge that led to arrests and convictions.
After being removed as chairman of Trump’s transition team, Christie said in December 2017 the move was a “big mistake” the country has paid for, according to The Record, part of the USA TODAY Network.
