December 15, 2018
DESPERATE TIMES, DESPERATE MEASURES:
Trump names budget director Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff (Philip Rucker, Josh Dawsey and Damian Paletta December 14, 2018, Washington Post)
Earlier Friday, Chris Christie was described by White House aides as a leading contender for the job after the former New Jersey governor met privately with Trump and first lady Melania Trump for more than an hour in the White House residence on Thursday night. But Christie called Trump at midday Friday to take his name off the list. A person close to Christie said a number of current and former White House aides warned Christie that the building was unmanageable and that "no one can have success there."Trump grew deeply frustrated at the rejections and the media narrative that no one of high stature wanted to be his chief of staff, according to a senior White House official, so he decided suddenly on Friday afternoon to tap Mulvaney.
Posted by Orrin Judd at December 15, 2018 10:33 AM