Trump backs WH chief, says Kelly 'doing a fantastic job'

President Donald Trump pushed back today against reports of a growing rift between himself and his chief of staff, declaring that John Kelly is "doing a fantastic job" and dismissing rumblings that the ex-Marine may soon leave the White House.

Just days after it was reported that Kelly had called Trump "an idiot" to staffers, Trump showcased his support for his embattled chief of staff by walking with him to a group of reporters at Joint Base Andrews awaiting Air Force One's departure for Dallas.

The president, who was set to speak at the National Rifle Association convention, blasted the stories as "false reporting" while Kelly said everything at the White House was going "phenomenally well."
The remark was first reported Monday by NBC News. In a statement Monday, Kelly called the report "total BS," and characterised his relationship with Trump as "incredibly candid and strong."
Frustrated with his chief of staff, Trump has taken to paying more attention to the advice of former campaign aides like Corey Lewandowski, who appeared alongside the president at a rally in Michigan Saturday. During the rally, which one person likened to a trial, Trump called Lewandowski on stage and praised him for not being a "pushover" or a "patsy."