Trump Loses Key Figures Just Weeks Before Crucial Elections

Karoline Leavitt, James Braid and Dave Warrington are among the figures leaving key positions as the White House prepares for elections that could change control of Congress.

President Donald Trump is facing a wave of departures among key White House officials just ahead of the November midterm elections, according to Politico.

• Why it matters: A Democratic-controlled Congress could make it more difficult for Trump to advance his agenda and usher in a period of greater oversight, investigations and subpoenas targeting his administration.

Leavitt, Braid and Warrington Leave Key White House Positions

Karoline Leavitt announced that she will step down as White House press secretary, while James Braid, Trump’s top liaison to Congress, will leave on September 30.

White House Counsel Dave Warrington is also departing. Ed Martin, the administration’s pardon attorney and an ally of the president, will move to the private sector.

• The key detail: The White House had not yet announced replacements for Leavitt and Braid, according to Politico.

The departures, however, do not necessarily stem from the same cause, and the sources cited provide no evidence of a collective break with Donald Trump.

Leavitt explained that her decision is related to her family following the birth of her second child. She will remain connected to Trump as an outside adviser.

Loss of Experienced Officials Creates Another Challenge

The changes are particularly significant because Trump has governed during his second term with the support of a relatively small circle of close and loyal aides.

Tevi Troy, a presidential historian and former George W. Bush White House official, told Politico that replacing experienced and trusted staff members is not easy.

• The challenge: New officials will have to learn how Donald Trump operates and build relationships with the president, Congress and other important members of the administration.

The White House, for its part, maintains that such turnover is normal.

One official said that some staffers who joined from the campaign or at the beginning of the administration eventually move on from their positions.

White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers also argued that the political movement Trump has built is larger than any individual official and said his agenda will continue.

Possible Republican Defeat Changes the Political Calculations

Politico also reported another interpretation: some officials may be considering whether this is the right time to return to the private sector.

A former official from Trump’s first administration said some staffers believe Republicans could lose the House of Representatives and potentially even the Senate.

• What’s at stake: If Democrats win a majority in Congress, they could increase investigations, oversight hearings and subpoenas targeting the administration.

A person close to the White House also suggested that leaving the government now could make it easier to pursue professional opportunities while officials still maintain valuable relationships in Washington.

These are theories attributed to sources consulted by Politico, not confirmed explanations for the individual resignations.

White House Departures Come Ahead of November Test

The departures follow a period of relative stability during Trump’s second term, which so far has been marked by fewer internal personnel changes than his first administration.

Political analyst Chris Whipple believes the administration will face difficult political conditions regardless of who fills the vacant positions.

• What’s next: The replacements will have to settle into their roles as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress in the midterm elections.

The question is whether these White House departures will ultimately prove to be routine turnover ahead of the second half of a presidency or the beginning of preparations for a more difficult political environment after November.

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SOURCE: Politico / Independent / Mint