Priebus on chaos in Trump White House: ‘Take everything you’ve heard and multiply it by 50’
Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said the Trump administration during his tenure was even more chaotic than what was reported, according to an upcoming book.
“Take everything you’ve heard and multiply it by 50,” Priebus said, according to an excerpt from the book “The Gatekeepers: How the White House Chiefs of Staff Define Every Presidency,” by Chris Whipple.
Priebus, who left the White House last summer, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions twice tried to resign, but he convinced Sessions otherwise, according to excerpts published by The Associated Press.
{mosads}“I said, ‘You cannot resign. It’s not possible. We are going to talk about this right now,’” Priebus recalled telling Sessions.
The attorney general, who has faced periodic criticism from President Trump, later offered his resignation, but Priebus urged Trump not to accept it, the former chief of staff said.
Priebus also said he didn’t support Trump picking a fight over the crowd size at his inauguration, which was smaller than former President Obama’s. However, Priebus ultimately relented, saying it wasn’t worth “going to go to war over” with Trump.
Since leaving the White House, Priebus has remained in touch with Trump and praised the president’s agenda.
“I still love the guy,” Priebus said in the book.
Priebus has reportedly talked with the president about strategy for this year’s midterm elections and has touted Trump’s support among Hispanic and black voters.
His new comments come as speculation swirls about whether Trump will fire chief of staff John Kelly, who replaced Priebus last year, over his handling of domestic abuse allegations against a White House aide.
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