Donald Trump replaces Mick Mulvaney as White House chief of staff, taps Mark Meadows
US President Donald Trump has parted ways with acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney and replaced him with conservative congressman and close ally Mark Meadows.
Mr Meadows takes over as the White House deals with the unfolding coronavirus crisis and as Mr Trump prepares for a re-election contest in November.
He becomes the fourth chief of staff in Mr Trump's three years in office, tasked with attempting to bring order to a chaotic presidency.
Mr Meadows is a member of the US House of Representatives from North Carolina and was a combative defender of the President during the impeachment saga, so much so that Mr Trump singled him out for praise after the Republican-led Senate acquitted the President.
"He's a tremendously talented man, not just as a politician. As a human being, he's incredible," Mr Trump said at the time
Mr Trump named Mr Mulvaney to be his special US envoy to Northern Ireland amid preparations to welcome Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar to Washington for St Patrick's Day ceremonies later this month.
A former senior administration official said the change had been a long time in the works and was a "done deal" some time ago.
Mr Trump announced the move just after arriving at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, where he is spending the weekend.