Retired Marine General John Kelly has been sworn in as the new White House chief of staff. Kelly formerly headed President Donald Trump’s Department of Homeland Security.
The general is expected to bring order to the West Wing after last week’s staff shakeup. Trump announced his appointment on Friday afternoon, after accepting the resignation of Reince Priebus, former GOP chairman who served as the White House chief of staff since the inauguration in January.
Kelly will do a “spectacular” job, Trump told reporters after the swearing-in on Monday.
“What he’s done in terms of Homeland Security is record-shattering,” he added. “I want to congratulate you on having done a fantastic job, general, and we look forward to - if it’s possible - an even better job as chief of staff.”
“That’s right, sir,” Kelly responded.
He described the retired general on Friday as "a true star of my administration."
In another tweet on Monday morning, Trump denied media reports that the White House was in “chaos,” giving his administration credit for the “best economic numbers in years, unemployment lowest in 17 years, wages raising [sic], border secure,” and the highest stock market ever.
The chief of staff’s departure came a week after Sean Spicer resigned as White House press secretary. He was replaced by his deputy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, while financier Anthony Scaramucci was brought on as the new communications director.