Win or lose, President Trump is reportedly mulling some major shakeups at the White House after the midterm elections, one of which could involve a high-profile and ‘humiliating’ firing of Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
Prior to departing for some campaign stops on Monday, the President stated that “administrations usually make changes after midterms” and specifically noted of his administration that they “will be probably right in that category too, it’s very customary.”
Trump did note that he ‘loves’ his Cabinet and that “we have some really talented people.”
Turnover throughout the President’s first term has been tumultuous and these new reports seem to suggest the roller coaster ride will continue into 2019.
Who will be in, and who will be out?
The first order of business, according to the President himself, would be to appoint a new Ambassador to the United Nations, replacing Nikki Haley “before the end of the week.”
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert has already been offered that role, according to White House officials.
Senior Administration Official tells Fox News that @statedeptspox Heather Nauert has been offered the job of UN Ambassador
— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) November 1, 2018
Reporters also questioned whether Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’s position might be on the chopping block as well. The President seemed a bit taken back by the suggestion asking, “Why would I do that? Is that the new rumor?”
Trump has already denied such rumors of Mattis’ departure after quotes surfaced in a book attributed to the Defense Secretary questioning the President’s intelligence.
Mattis referred to the book as “fiction” and Trump stood by him saying “we’re very happy with him, we’re having a lot of victories, we’re having victories that people don’t even know about, and he’s highly respected all over the world.”
Reporters questioned Trump about Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke as well, who has recently been referred to the Justice Department for possible ethical breaches.
Perhaps the most high-profile speculation involves Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a perpetual punching bag for the President due to his inability or unwillingness to stop the deep state actors actively trying to subvert his administration.
Sessions to be ‘humiliated?’
The Washington Post reports that Jeff Sessions firing could be imminent, and it could be done in humiliating fashion.
Allies of Sessions and some in the Justice Department believe the attorney general could be fired in humiliating fashion in the days immediately following Tuesday’s elections. The White House has begun considering replacements, while Trump aides and confidants have cautioned the president he would face a backlash if he fired either of the top two Justice officials, particularly before the midterms.
In early October, stories surfaced indicating President Trump had already begun the process of humiliating Sessions, discussing his possible dismissal with the attorney general’s own top aide.
This past summer, Senator Lindsey Graham noted that it was “very likely” Sessions would be fired following the midterms. Prior to that, Trump’s campaign manager called for the Attorney General to be fired.
Time to fire Sessions
End the Mueller investigation
You can’t obstruct something that was phony against you
The IG report gives @realDonaldTrump the truth to end it all.
— Brad Parscale (@parscale) June 19, 2018
We have yet to see Sessions do anything involving Hillary Clinton’s criminal behavior, FISA abuses from the Obama administration, collusion on the part of Democrats with foreign officials, etcetera, etcetera.
So his firing won’t be a major loss for the Trump agenda.
