“YOU’RE FIRED!”
by Sharon Rondeau
(Jul. 28, 2017) — As predicted over the last two weeks, President Donald Trump’s first chief of staff, former RNC Chairman Reince Preibus, has either resigned or been fired, more likely the latter.
Rumors had swirled, particularly since last Friday, when longtime Trump friend Anthony Scaramucci was declared the new White House Communications Director, that Preibus would soon leave his post.
Scaramucci admitted over the last several days that he and Preibus do not always agree on issues, likening their relationship to that of the Biblical brothers Cain and Abel.
For months, citing unnamed sources, major media have reported that the White House is in a constant state of tumult, with this week seeing a crescendo amid predictions that Preibus would be forced out.
On Twitter on Friday evening, the president thanked Preibus for his service and complimented him on the work he did over the last six months since Trump was inaugurated.
Many anecdotal comments on the social media platform contended that Preibus was fired rather than that he resigned, a claim supported by an ABC News report.
It has been reported that Trump intended to give Scaramucci a position at the White House from the beginning but that Preibus vehemently objected and prevailed.
Breitbart and other sources have reported that Preibus had recommended former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer for the job from which he resigned following the announcement of Scaramucci’s new position last Friday. Preibus reportedly also brought others from the RNC to the White House who might not have supported Trump’s candidacy or ideology.
For his part, on Thursday Scaramucci predicted that Preibus would soon resign as reported in an article at The New Yorker which proved highly embarrassing to Scaramucci.
On Friday Scaramucci appeared to believe that his conversation with author Ryan Lizza should have been off the record. Lizza said that Scaramucci did not specify that the heated exchange, at least on Scaramucci’s part, was to be kept out of the press.
Scaramucci reportedly told Lizza that Preibus has leaked information about White House activity to the press and others, a claim other sources have appeared to corroborate. Lizza additionally quoted Scaramucci as having berated White House senior adviser Stephen K. Bannon, former Breitbart Editor-in-Chief, suggesting that he, too, will soon be terminated.
Trump gave no direct indication earlier on Friday of the impending staff change when he addressed police officers on Long Island about the work they are doing in removing members of the barbaric street gang known as MS-13 and complimented DHS Secretary and retired Marine Gen. John F. Kelly. Reuters reported that Preibus accompanied Trump on the trip to New York.
After Preibus’s departure was announced, Trump declared that Kelly will assume the Chief of Staff position on Monday morning.
A new DHS Secretary nominee has not yet been made public and will have to receive Senate confirmation.
Preibus appeared on a CNN show on Friday evening, according to CBS’s Mark Knoller and other sources, claiming to have resigned on Thursday.
Prior to Trump’s political ambitions coming to fruition with the presidency, he starred in the “reality” NBC program, “The Apprentice,” as himself in which he would eliminate contenders for high-powered business positions by abruptly saying, “You’re fired!”
Ten years ago, Trump received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his role in the show.
