Acting White House Chief of Staff Mulvaney first learned about the US military raid against ISIS leader Baghdadi after the operation was already underway, according to 5 current and former senior administration officials.
But the revelation that the White House chief of staff learned of the al-Baghdadi raid around the same time as the rest of the world is the most glaring indication that Mulvaney is perhaps a chief of staff in name only, officials said.
But, Whipple said, it’s not surprising given that Mulvaney made a concerted decision early into his tenure not to challenge the president or operate as a powerful chief of staff.A senior administration official said Mulvaney had long planned this past weekend’s visit home to South Carolina and insisted his lack of knowledge about the al-Baghdadi raid is not a reflection of his status with the president.
One person close to the White House said the president didn’t include Mulvaney because he doesn’t see him as having a role in national security issues. The claim is particularly extraordinary given that Mulvaney replaced John Kelly, a highly decorated four-star general, who served as chief of staff for 16 months after a stint as Secretary of Homeland Security.
Trump has been actively considering possible replacements for Mulvaney, officials said. On Monday, White House spokesman Hogan Gidley repeatedly declined to say the president has confidence in Mulvaney when pressed by NBC News.
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