Trump chief of staff won't quit or be fired barring change

October 12, 2017 at 2:06 p.m. | Updated October 12, 2017 at 2:20 p.m.

by Associated Press

In this Aug. 22, 2017 photo, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Deputy Chief of Staff Kirstjen Nielsen speak together as they walk across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Kirstjen Nielsen as his next Secretary of Homeland Security. That’s according to three people familiar with decision. They spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss deliberations before a formal announcement. Nielsen was former DHS Secretary John Kelly’s deputy when he served in that role and moved with Kelly to the White House when he was tapped to be Trump’s chief of staff. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
In this Aug. 22, 2017 photo, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly and Deputy Chief of Staff Kirstjen Nielsen speak together as they walk across the South Lawn of the White House in Washington. President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Kirstjen Nielsen as his next Secretary of Homeland Security. That’s according to three people familiar with decision. They spoke on condition of anonymity in order to discuss deliberations before a formal announcement. Nielsen was former DHS Secretary John Kelly’s deputy when he served in that role and moved with Kelly to the White House when he was tapped to be Trump’s chief of staff. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

WASHINGTON (AP) - White House Chief of Staff John Kelly says he's not quitting, getting fired or firing anyone else, "unless things change."

Amid a swirl of reports that he's frustrated in the job, the retired Marine Corps general told reporters Thursday at the daily White House briefing, "Unless things change, I'm not quitting, I'm not getting fired and I don't think I'll fire anyone tomorrow."

His extraordinary statements are the latest examples of Trump administration officials professing their loyalty publicly to the 45th president of the United States to refute reports suggesting problems in the chaotic administration.

Kelly added, "I don't think I'm being fired today and I'm not so frustrated in this job that I'm thinking of leaving."

He previously served as Trump's secretary of homeland security.

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