Out Kelly, in Ayers: will a new chief of staff help Donald Trump change the subject?
- Nic Ayers is only 36 but has spent his entire career in Republican politics, and is currently Vice-President Mike Pence’s chief of staff
- He has little experience wheeling and dealing on legislation in Congress and would take the reins at a time when Trump is under siege
A photogenic Georgia native, Ayers has advised a series of high-profile Republican governors and has been Vice-President Mike Pence’s chief of staff, running one of the most effective political teams in Washington.
He has spent his entire career in Republican politics – a sharp contrast to the man he would replace, retired Marine Corps general John Kelly – and earned a fortune selling ads to political campaigns.
Still, Ayers has little experience wheeling and dealing on legislation in Congress and would take the reins at a time when Trump is weakened by Democrats winning control of the House of Representatives at midterm elections last month.
Trump now faces House probes into his businesses and most controversial policies, and special counsel Robert Mueller is investigating possible collusion between Trump’s election campaign team and Russian officials in 2016.