Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has privately urged President Donald Trump not to fire his chief of staff amid the turmoil surrounding ousted staff secretary Rob Porter, the Washington Examiner reported.
According to the Examiner, McConnell, in a recent phone call, advised Trump to avoid making any significant changes to his senior-level staff — including firing John Kelly.
McConnell later told associates, however, it was unclear if Trump will pay any attention to the advice, the Examiner reported, citing an unnamed source.
McConnell spokesman David Popp declined to confirm the majority leader has spoken to Trump since allegations of domestic abuse by Porter were revealed, forcing his resignation.
But Trump has floated several potential replacements for Kelly in conversations with close friends since Porter left, though he remains torn over a decision to replace him, the Examiner reported.
According to the Examiner, Trump has told some people he's thinking of replacing Kelly with his longtime pal Tom Barrack, who ran Trump's inauguration committee, while others say the president is leaning toward House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., who has dismissed the idea he is in the running.
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