Donald Trump is openly expressing annoyance with one of his appointees over his constant efforts to ingratiate himself with the president as he seeks to become more of a power player.
According to a report from the Washington Post on the jockeying for the White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ job, believing she will either depart or be pushed out after the midterms, top housing official, and briefly acting director of national intelligence, Bill Pulte was cited for his avid drive to stay in front of Trump. And the president does not always appreciate it, the Post is reporting.
Pulte frequently "lugs poster boards onto the golf course, Marine One or Air Force One" to nudge Trump to sign on to his ideas, the Post reported. The boards typically contain Pulte’s proposals for whatever issue is irking the president that day, such as renovations to the Kennedy Center or the Federal Reserve’s failure to lower interest rates. Sometimes they include "artwork of the president or images of his rallies," according to one person who has viewed them.
But Trump’s love of visual aids has its limits, the Post said. He has told advisers that Pulte has brought him so many poster boards that they are "cluttering up" the White House, according to two administration officials and a third person close to the White House.
The Post also reported that Trump has been calling friends, White House aides and outside advisers because he appears worried information is not reaching him, according to an adviser who received one of the calls. He has also vented about the midterms and the two outside advisers running his political strategy, James Blair and Chris LaCivita, who are close allies of Wiles.
Former aide Corey Lewandowski, a fierce rival of Wiles, has been in contact with Trump and is supportive of Pulte, according to two people with knowledge of the conversations, the Post reported.
“I have never spoken with the president about Bill Pulte being the chief of staff,” Lewandowski said when reached for comment.
Wiles has given no indication that she plans to leave, the Post reported. Trump has called a separate Politico report that he has been asking allies about replacing her “TOTAL FAKE NEWS” and said she “has my COMPLETE confidence.”