US Congressman Meadows Says Would Be 'Honor' To Serve As Trump's Chief Of Staff

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th December, 2018) US Congressman Mark Meadows said in a statement that he would consider it a great honor to be selected as President Donald Trump's new chief of staff while the search for a candidate continues.

Trump told reporters on Saturday John Kelly who has been serving as chief of staff since July 2017 will leave the White House by the end of this year.

"Serving as chief of staff would be an incredible honor," Meadows said in the statement to Politico newspaper on Monday after media reported that the lawmaker was among the top choices for the position.

Trump has not revealed what exactly led to Kelly's decision to resign, but the media has been long speculating that the two have not been getting along. Both Trump and Kelly refuted all speculations about the general's departure many times in the past.

Immediately after the news about Kelly's resignation were confirmed, reports about a possible replacement emerged featuring Nick Ayers, the chief of staff for Vice President Mike Pence, as a top candidate.

Ayers declined the job offer in a statement on Sunday saying that he was grateful for the opportunity but will be departing the White House at the end of 2018 to work for the Trump campaign in Georgia.

CNN reported the White House was ready to make an announcement naming Ayers the new chief of staff, but the negotiations failed leaving the administration with a list of candidates which includes Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, and Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. In separate interviews, these possible candidates said they would rather keep current jobs.

Trump said on Twitter on Sunday he has been interviewing great people for the position and will be making a decision soon.