National Security Adviser John Bolton and White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow are reporting directly to President Donald Trump and bypassing chief of staff John Kelly, CNN reported Thursday.
"It certainly does diminish his role in a way here," CNN White House reporter Kaitlan Collins told Wolf Blitzer from outside Mar-a-Lago in Florida. "When John Kelly was brought into the West Wing, everyone was reporting to him including the president's daughter and son-in-law.
"But Larry Kudlow is reporting to the president," she said.
Collins also based her reporting on "multiple sources with knowledge of the hierarchy in the White House," she told Blitzer.
Kelly, 67, became chief of staff last summer after the departure of Reince Priebus, who assumed the role after Trump's inauguration.
A retired Marine Corps general, Kelly had been Homeland Security secretary — and his role was to impose order on what was considered by outsiders as an unruly White House and the president.
But while Kelly was initially praised for his disciplined approach, he has been increasingly seen as being on the outside as President Trump has kept his own counsel, according to news reports.
For instance, Kelly was not at the president's side when Trump abruptly decided to oust H.R. McMaster as national security adviser last month, leading to Bolton's appointment.
He now is rarely on the line when Trump phones foreign leaders, including March 20 call to congratulate Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election victory.
In addition, White House aides have said Trump does not seek Kelly's input on staffing and policy decisions as much as he once did.
Axios also reported earlier this month Kelly threatened to quit in a March 28 blow-up in the Oval Office — disclosing that "while walking back to his office, [Kelly] muttered he was going to quit."
In January, The New York Times reported Kelly has repeatedly threatened to walk to get Trump to listen to him — though Kelly has denied doing so.
Trump also has praised Kelly on Twitter, saying in January after the Times report he was doing "a fantastic job."
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