CNN: Trump feels Kelly is trying to undermine him
President Trump is reportedly growing frustrated with chief of staff John Kelly and feels Kelly doesn’t respect him, sources close to the White House told CNN.
The network reported Thursday that Trump’s surprise drop-in to Kelly’s office on Wednesday, where he held an impromptu question-and-answer session with reporters who had gathered to speak with Kelly about immigration issues, was meant as a “warning shot” from Trump.
{mosads}In the surprise chat with reporters, Trump said he is “looking forward to” speaking with special counsel Robert Mueller and said he would speak with Mueller under oath.
Trump also defended his campaign and mocked critics who have accused him of obstructing the Russia probe by attacking the investigations and referring to them as a “witch hunt.”
CNN reports the impromptu briefing left White House staffers confused and wondering what Trump said and if it was on the record.
Sources close to Trump told the network that Trump feels like Kelly doesn’t respect him, but others cautioned that reports of Trump’s dissatisfaction with Kelly are planted by friends of Trump who are unhappy that the chief of staff has curbed their access to the president.
The CNN report follows a Washington Post report last week that Trump was “furious” with Kelly after the chief of staff told a group of Democratic lawmakers that some of Trump’s campaign promises on immigration were “uninformed.”
Trump reportedly thought Kelly’s comments made him look like a child and made it seem like he was giving in to the demands of Democrats on immigration.
CNN reports that Trump “hated” Kelly’s comments and after seeing them spent the evening calling friend to complain about them.
On Tuesday, Trump praised Kelly in a tweet, saying he was doing a “fantastic job.”
“Thank you to General John Kelly, who is doing a fantastic job, and all of the Staff and others in the White House, for a job well done,” Trump tweeted.
“Long hours and Fake reporting makes your job more difficult, but it is always great to WIN, and few have won more than us!” he added.
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