01 September, 2017
President Donald Trump praised his new chief of staff John Kelly on Friday morning, seeming to push back on a new report that he's already bridling at Kelly's leadership. The president continues to call business friends and outside advisers, including former chief strategist Stephen K. Bannon, from his personal phone when Kelly is not around, said people with knowledge of the calls.
Trump adds: "Many big decisions to be made over the coming days and weeks". Trump filled with admiration for the former Army general expressed his happiness over Kelly's contribution to the west wing and laid confidence in what he has to offer.
On Thursday night, the Washington Post published a profile of the president under the thumb of his new White House captain.
Regarding Kelly's structure, Roger Stone, one of Trump's longest confidants and a one-time advisor, told the paper that Kelly is "trying to treat the president like a mushroom" by "feeding him sh*t" and keeping "him in the dark". He doesn't like how Kelly's handling him. Other loyalists agree, and that's why they dubbed Kelly "The Church Lady" - they think he's too strict and feels superior to others.
Bannon's resignation was one of a number of White House departures that have occurred under Kelly, including former communications director Anthony Scaramucci and former aide Sebastian Gorka.
