Trump Says He’s Considering Five Candidates for Chief of Staff

(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said he is weighing five candidates to succeed retired General John Kelly as White House chief of staff, after eliminating Representative Mark Meadows from consideration.

“‘Five people, really good ones,” Trump told reporters Thursday after being asked about the status of his search. “Terrific people, mostly well known, but terrific people.” He didn’t elaborate.

Trump spoke of a larger group in an interview Tuesday with Reuters, saying he had “at least 10, 12 -- 12 people that want it badly. I’m making a decision.” He added that he was “in no rush.”

Trump tried to replace Kelly with Vice President Mike Pence’s top aide, Nick Ayers, over the weekend, but Ayers turned down the job and said he’d leave the White House at the end of the year. Kelly will remain in his job until at least Jan. 2, Kellyanne Conway, a top aide to Trump, said on Fox News earlier Tuesday.

David Bossie, his former deputy campaign manager, has been discussed as a possible Kelly successor, people familiar with the matter said. Some White House aides have said Conway would be a good choice. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker have also been discussed. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and his wife, Callista, visited the White House Wednesday, stirring speculation one of them might be a candidate.

The White House said Wednesday it had eliminated from consideration Meadows, chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

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