Nick Ayers, the current chief of staff for Vice President Pence, will not be the next White House chief of staff, a White House official confirmed to The Hill on Sunday.
Ayers, who was considered one of the likeliest choices to replace John Kelly, will instead work for the super PAC supporting the president, the source said. Trump will settle on a new chief of staff by the end of the year.
Ayers announced the news a short time later via Twitter.
"Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House," Ayers wrote. "I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause."
Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia
— Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018
The Wall Street Journal first reported that Ayers would not take the chief of staff job. The news outlet reported that Ayers told Trump he could not commit to the job for more than the first three months of 2019, while the president sought a longer commitment.
Trump announced as he departed on Saturday for the Army-Navy football game that Kelly would exit as chief of staff by the end of the year.
DEVELOPING
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/420483-ayers-no-longer-considered-for-white-house-chief-of-staff