Many expected that Chief of Staff John Kelly would bring President Donald Trump's White House under control, but the continued issues come from the top down, Rep. Eric Swalwell said Thursday.
"Americans are hoping that he would be there with the fire hose, and too often now we've seen that he's there with the gasoline," the California Democrat told CNN's "New Day." "But it starts at the top. This is a president who has led, I think, in an office of chaos and that is reflected right now as I stand here on Capitol Hill."
The latest controversy, involving the resignation of key aide Rob Porter over allegations of spousal abuse, has been laid at Kelly's feet, leaving many to call for his resignation, but Swalwell said he would not join in the demands.
"It is the president's right to run his own White House," said Swalwell. "We have to, in the legislative branch, work around the White House if they are not willing to work with us, and I think you are seeing on the Senate side they did that yesterday. They struck a bipartisan deal. I hope we could do the same here on the House side."
But there are different branches of government "until it starts to affect the American people," he continued. "But there is different branches of government until it starts to affect the American people, I still think the person's name is on the door and that is most responsible and that is Donald Trump."
Meanwhile, it takes four people to make a congressional deal, said Swalwell, and those are House Speaker Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. They all agree on the pending bill, except for Ryan, who is not offering ot House Democrats the same deal the Senate Democrats got.
"We're just asking him to — let's strike the same deal and get a bipartisan budget," said Swalwell. "Let's solve the Dreamers issue."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.