CAMPAIGN/ELECTION/TRUMP PEOPLE: “Mercedes Schlapp, the White House director of strategic communications, announced on Monday [7-1-19] that she would leave her West Wing post to join President Trump’s re-election campaign, the latest move in a shuffle of the White House press shop. Ms. Schlapp said in an interview that she had discussed her departure with Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser, for weeks. It had been widely expected since Stephanie Grisham was appointed the new press secretary and communications director last week, according to multiple people familiar with the discussions. After some discussion of keeping Ms. Schlapp in the administration but moving her out of the White House and to an agency, those talks fell apart…Ms. Schlapp’s departure comes as Ms. Grisham is likely to make a number of changes in a press operation that has consistently stymied Mr. Trump. The president has often complained to people that despite the large number of employees in his press and communications office, he continues to generate what he views as terrible coverage.”
–Maggie Haberman and Annie Karni, “Mercedes Schlapp Leaving White House Press Office to Join Trump Campaign,” The New York Times online, July 1, 2019