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Trump reportedly asks allies about replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles

Politico Playbook reports, citing four people with direct knowledge, that Trump has been asking friends and allies about replacing chief of staff Susie Wiles. Trump called the report fake news and said Wiles has his complete confidence.

2 outlets · 2L · 0C · 0R First reported Account updated
Image: Raw Story
Image: The Independent

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The story, neutrally told

Left · 2Politico Playbook reported that President Donald Trump has been calling friends and allies to ask for their views on White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and on possible replacements. Left · 1According to the report, the calls have picked up as the November election nears and Trump privately expresses frustration with his poll numbers. One senior elected Republican official who received a call said the president raised "the first honest questions about Susie." Left · 2The names reportedly floated include deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller and New York Yankees president Randy Levine, the latter described as an "outside option". People close to Trump also told Playbook he is considering Steve Witkoff, Bill Pulte and former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Left · 2McCarthy's allies argue he could help Trump deal with a hostile Democratic Congress; The Independent adds that he had a good working relationship with Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Left · 2Playbook reported that Wiles' rivals, and people who feel "burned" by her, have been encouraging Trump and sharing unfavourable coverage of her and her family with him. A Republican operative close to the White House said: "She’s burned a lot of people." Left · 1Raw Story, relaying Playbook, said Trump has bristled at reports that Wiles allies James Blair and Chris LaCivita did paid work for Republika Srpska, a semi-autonomous Bosnian Serb territory. It also cited reports that Wiles' daughter Katie represented the territory; her spokesperson said she has not spoken with any US government official about it, as reported by the Daily Beast.

Left · 1Trump rejected the report in a statement to Playbook, calling it "TOTAL FAKE NEWS" and saying Wiles is his "loyal and longest serving Chief of Staff" with his "COMPLETE confidence." A White House official said Wiles has yet to discuss with Trump how long she will stay. Left · 1The Independent's subheading says Wiles has been left out of the loop on several major decisions in recent weeks.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left2 outlets

Framing
Both outlets relay Politico Playbook's account that Wiles is in jeopardy, using vivid, colloquial language, and lead on the replacement shortlist and the quotes from unnamed sources.
Emphasis
Raw Story stresses Wiles' vulnerability and the Srpska controversy; The Independent stresses the souring relationship and the list of candidates.
Leaves out or plays down
The Independent leaves out Trump's denial and the White House comment; both rely on anonymous sourcing and have no independent confirmation.
Charged language
“on thin ice”“stunning replacement”“dump his loyal aide overboard”“ice maiden”
For example
“Susie Wiles on thin ice as Trump quizzes friends with stunning replacement” — Raw Story
“dump his loyal aide overboard” — The Independent

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right0 outlets

No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

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