WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Donald Trump replacing Reince Priebus as chief of staff (all times local):
7:25 p.m.
Outgoing White House chief of staff Reince Priebus says that he formally resigned from his job after it became clear the president wanted to go in a different direction.
Priebus tells CNN that he resigned on Thursday. President Donald Trump announced the staff shakeup in a Friday tweet.
Trump has picked Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly as his new chief of staff.
Priebus says he supports the president and that he’s “doing great” personally.
Priebus says he intends to continue working at the White House for a couple of weeks to ease the transition of his replacement.
Priebus calls Kelly a “brilliant pick” and says he himself remains a Trump fan.
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7:05 p.m.
Outgoing Homeland Security Secretary and new White House chief of staff John Kelly is thanking the staff at DHS for the opportunity to serve as their secretary.
Kelly says in a statement that, when he left the Marines, he never thought he would find as committed, as professional, as patriotic a group of individuals. He says he was wrong.
President Donald Trump has picked the retired Marine general to replace Reince Priebus as his chief of staff. Kelly says that he is “honored to be asked” to take the job.
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6:40 p.m.
House Speaker Paul Ryan says Reince Priebus served President Donald Trump and the American people capably, passionately and with class.
Trump tweeted Friday that he has replaced Priebus with retired Marine Gen. John Kelly, who is the secretary of homeland security. Kelly starts Monday.
Ryan says Priebus “left it all out on the field” for the party and the country and he could not be more proud to call Priebus a “dear friend.” Both are from Wisconsin and are longtime friends.
Priebus was head of the Republican National Committee before joining the White House as chief of staff.
Ryan offered his congratulations to Kelly and said he looks forward to working with him.
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5:30 p.m.
President Donald Trump says the aide he’s replacing as chief of staff, Reince Priebus, is a “good man.”
Trump made the comment to reporters after he tweeted the news that Priebus’ successor as chief of staff is the secretary of homeland security, John Kelly.
He added of the retired Marine general: “John Kelly will do a fantastic job.”
Priebus’ hold on the White House job has long been in question, more so this week after Trump’s new communications director badmouthed him to a reporter for the New Yorker. Trump hired Anthony Scaramucci over Priebus’s objections and Scaramucci reports directly to the president.
Trump is calling Kelly “a true star” of the administration. Trump also tweeted his thanks to Priebus.
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5:05 p.m.
President Donald Trump says Gen. John F. Kelly is his new White House chief of staff.
That means Reince Priebus is out.
Trump tweeted: “I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff. He is a Great American.”
Kelly is currently the secretary of Homeland Security.
Trump tweeted that Kelly “has been a true star of my administration.”
Priebus traveled with Trump earlier in the day to an appearance in Brentwood, New York. Trump thanked him for his service and “dedication to his country.”
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