According to a new report, Trump may be considering a replacement for Mick Mulvaney who has apparently fallen out of favor with Trump during this impeachment inquiry fiasco:
BLOOMBERG – Donald Trump has for weeks been privately testing the idea of replacing his chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, who’s swiftly fallen out of favor with some of the president’s allies after high-profile stumbles handling the House impeachment inquiry.
About a month ago, Trump said to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin in front of a roomful of staff: You have such great ideas, why don’t you be my chief? He has made similar remarks about Chris Liddell, a deputy chief of staff at the White House, according to people familiar with the matter. He’s also asked advisers whether his counselor Kellyanne Conway would be a good chief of staff, other people said.
Or maybe not…
Some White House aides say this is nothing new, and that Trump often tests similar ideas in conversation or makes such remarks to flatter his aides and keep others on their toes.
But then again…
But Trump’s musings about replacing Mulvaney are a sign of the president’s growing discontent with his performance. For almost a year, Mulvaney has served as “acting” chief of staff because Trump has withheld the permanent title from him.
Mulvaney’s standing with his boss has become unsteady after the White House’s flat-footed response to the impeachment inquiry, which some Trump allies have blamed on the chief of staff. Mulvaney further damaged himself with a news conference last week in which he admitted that aid to Ukraine was held up to pressure the country to investigate the president’s political rivals — the question at the heart of the impeachment debate.
Trump didn’t respond on Monday when he was asked during a Cabinet meeting whether Mulvaney would remain in his job. One aide said that the president’s silence was a signal that Trump is considering a change.
The article goes on to say that while Mulvaney has hit a recent rough patch, his departure isn’t seen as imminent and that he still has support in the administration.
But the silence by Trump in response to questions about Mulvaney’s job is a big deal to me, because we all know that when Trump is happy with someone, he sings their praises. Mulvaney might not be out the door yet, but something tells me that he’s one mistake away getting the boot.