President Donald Trump, joined by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, Vice President Mike Pence, second from left, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, right, speaks to the media as he arrives at the Pentagon, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018.
President Donald Trump, joined by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, Vice President Mike Pence, second from left, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, right, speaks to the media as he arrives at the Pentagon, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Carolyn Kaster AP Photo
President Donald Trump, joined by Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, left, Vice President Mike Pence, second from left, and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, right, speaks to the media as he arrives at the Pentagon, Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Carolyn Kaster AP Photo

National Politics

Clash with Trump casts spotlight on Kelly

By JONATHAN LEMIRE and CATHERINE LUCEY Associated Press

January 18, 2018 02:17 PM

WASHINGTON

President Donald Trump says his chief of staff is "doing a great job."

That's notable because earlier Thursday, Trump pushed back against John Kelly's comment that the president's views on a border wall had evolved.

Democrats who met with Kelly on Wednesday say he told them parts of the border don't need a wall — and that Trump didn't know that when he made campaign promises.

The clash is casting a fresh spotlight on the limits of Kelly's ability to manage White House tumult.

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Kelly said on Fox that he told lawmakers that "they all say things during the course of campaigns that may or may not be fully informed."

Trump later said Kelly "didn't say it the way you would like him to say it."

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