JOHN KELLY/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/TRUMP PEOPLE/WHITE HOUSE STAFF: “Nick Ayers, Donald Trump’s top choice to be his next chief of staff, is no longer in the running and the U.S. president is now considering at least two other candidates, sources familiar with the matter said on Sunday [12-9-18], the latest sign of a chaotic White House staff shake-up.Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Republican Representative Mark Meadows, chairman of the right-wing House Freedom Caucus, are among the possible contenders to replace current White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, one source told Reuters. Ayers, 36, chief of staff to Vice President Mike Pence and known as a skilled Republican political tactician, had been in discussions for months about taking the job, but was unable to agree to terms with Trump, another source said. Ayers tweeted that he would instead be leaving the White House soon, apparently to return to his home state of Georgia. One of the sources said Ayers would return to ‘America First Policies,’ a combative group that he helped found before joining Pence in the White House.”
–Roberta Rampton, Steve Holland, “Trump’s top choice for chief of staff not taking job; other candidates in running,” Reuters, December 9, 2018 1:35 pm