Trump appoints Mulvaney acting chief of staff

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday announced Mick Mulvaney, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, as acting White House chief of staff.

“I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction,” Trump wrote on Twitter.

“I look forward to working with him in this new capacity as we continue to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! John will be staying until the end of the year. He is a GREAT PATRIOT and I want to personally thank him for his service”, Trump added.

Before he became budget director, Mulvaney had served four terms in the U.S. House, representing South Carolina’s 5th congressional district.

The Daily Beast reported that the former congressman once described himself as a ‘rightwing nutjob”.

As a congressman, he was known as a tea-party leader who co-founded the House Freedom Caucus, Congress’ most hardline conservative faction.

He endorsed Trump in the 2016 election after initially supporting Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) during the Republican primaries.

(NAN)