Report says WH chief of staff called Trump an 'idiot'; Kelly denies

Press Trust of India  |  Washington 

today flatly denied calling US an "idiot" as claimed by a report.

"I spend more time with the than anyone else and we have an incredibly candid and strong relationship. He always knows where I stand and he and I both know this story is total BS. I am committed to the President, his agenda, and our country," he said.

"This is another pathetic attempt to smear people close to Trump and distract from the administration's many successes," Kelly said in a statement.

Hours later, Kelly was joined by Trump himself on to refute such an impression of the

"is going crazy making up false stories and using only unnamed sources (who don't exist). They are totally unhinged, and the great success of this Administration is making them do and say things that even they can't believe they are saying. Truly bad people!" said the US President, who now has over 51 million followers.

"The is running very smoothly despite phony Witch Hunts etc," he said.

"There is great Energy and unending Stamina, both necessary to get things done. We are accomplishing the unthinkable and setting positive records while doing so! Fake is going "bonkers!" Trump said.

said that Kelly has eroded morale in in recent months with comments to aides that include insulting the president's intelligence and casting himself as the saviour of the country.

"The officials said Kelly portrays himself to aides as the lone bulwark against catastrophe, curbing the erratic urges of a who has a questionable grasp on policy issues and the functions of government," the channel said.

"He doesn't even understand what DACA is. He's an idiot," Kelly said in one meeting, two officials who said they were present told "We've got to save him from himself," the channel reported Kelly as having said.

Meanwhile, three other spokespersons told that they do not believe that Kelly ever called Trump an idiot.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Tue, May 01 2018. 08:30 IST