Trump aides have no idea why suspected leaker Kellyanne Conway is still in the White House
Kellyanne Conway's husband very publicly detests President Trump. She's also a notorious leaker, according to many, many White House sources.
Even with Trump's heavy-handed firing power at the ready, he's kept Conway onboard as his counselor since the beginnings of his presidency. And it's left several White House alumni "flummoxed," as The Atlantic's Peter Nicholas puts it.
Conway is part of a rare club in the Trump White House. Trump has lost 15 Cabinet members compared to former President Barack Obama's seven at this point in their presidencies, reportedly ousting some of his loyalists for something as simple as having an accent. But Conway, along with star loyalist Vice President Mike Pence, have hung on.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump, of course, can't fire Pence — though judging by the vice president's excessive kowtowing comments, you'd think he could. Conway, meanwhile, is under no so such assurances. But she's still survived gaffes such as the "Bowling Green massacre" because "more than anyone not named Trump, Conway is the White House's public face," Nicholas writes. She's unafraid to appear on TV and spin Trump's confusing comments into a net positive, something ex-Trump staffer Cliff Sims told The Atlantic "will never go out of style in the Trump White House."
It also doesn't seem to hurt that Conway has never been caught calling Trump names. Ex-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's use of "moron," and former Counsel Don McGahn's reported references to Trump as "King Kong" may have something to do with their chopped tenures, The Atlantic says. Read more at The Atlantic.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Why is Islamic State targeting Russia?
Today's Big Question Islamist terror group's attack on 'soft target' in Moscow was driven in part by 'opportunity and personnel'
By Elliott Goat, The Week UK Published
-
'Going for broke?'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Crossword: March 25, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Barack Obama 'behind Starmer transformation'
Under The Radar The former US president urged Labour leader to 'talk more openly'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Trump-RNC pact puts Trump legal bills ahead of GOP
Speed Read The former president has struck a deal with the Republican National Committee to put donations toward his legal bills
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A wonky bureaucratic tweak has dramatically changed how Americans drive'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Vietnam president resigns amid scandal
Speed Read Vietnam loses its second president in two years as Vo Van Thuong steps down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Mississippi sheriffs wield a tremendous authority in the counties they police'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is Donald Trump an intelligence threat?
Today's Big Question Presidential nominees typically get classified briefings. Should Trump?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Is Hollywood undergoing a gun reform reckoning?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Texas migrant law in limbo after Supreme Court OK
Speed Read The law has been blocked again, mere hours after the Supreme Court allowed the state to arrest migrants
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published