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John Kelly sworn in as new White House chief of staff

US President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with newly sworn-in White House Chief of Staff John Kelly (L) at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2017. (Photo by AFP)

US President Donald Trump has installed retired Marine Corps general John Kelly as the new White House chief of staff.

The 67-year-old combat veteran was sworn in as Trump's new chief of staff on Monday.

Kelly is tasked with bringing order and discipline to a White House beset by scandal, infighting, and jump-starting the president's stalled legislative agenda.

"I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House Chief of Staff," Trump tweeted. "He is a Great American... and a Great Leader. John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my Administration."

Kelley has been secretary for six months at the Department of Homeland Security.

Talking to reporters in the Oval Office in the White House in Washington, DC,  Trump predicted that he would do a "spectacular job."

"What he has done in terms of homeland security is record-shattering, if you look at the border, if you look at the tremendous results we've had," Trump said.

"I predict that General Kelly will go down as, in terms of the position of chief of staff, one of the great(est) ever,” he added.

Kelly is replacing Reince Priebus, who was reportedly forced to step down on Friday after a stormy six-month tenure. He has been in a public feud with Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s newly-appointed communications director.

Priebus has been accused of leaking information to the media from the Trump administration meetings.

Since taking office six months ago, the president has sacked a number of senior officials including his national security advisor and the White House spokesman, among others.

White House spokesman Sean Spicer stepped down on July 21 after Trump had named Scaramucci his new communications director, a decision he strongly disapproved of.


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