Spicer Says 'Liar' Is Behind New Trump-Priebus Whispers

Politico's sources say president has given his chief of staff a July 4 shakeup deadline
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jun 12, 2017 10:14 AM CDT
Report: Trump Gives Priebus a July 4 Deadline
President Trump's Chief of Staff Reince Priebus attends an Air Traffic Control Reform Initiative event in the East Room at the White House, Monday, June 5.   (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

"Liar" was perhaps the word of the week last week, and Sean Spicer used it on Sunday in a fresh context: To slap down a report that President Trump has set a July 4 deadline by which Chief of Staff Reince Priebus needs to shake up the White House staff—or risk being ousted. "Whoever is saying that is either a liar or out of the loop," Spicer said in a statement. Politico counters that with its report, by way of two Trump officials and three outsiders who are close to the situation, which puts Trump in the Oval Office with Priebus, former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, and deputy campaign manager David Bossie shortly after his international travels.

The president has been toying with the idea of bringing Lewandowski and Bossie into the fold and reportedly said, "I don't want them to come into this mess. If I'm going to clean house, they will come in as fresh blood. ... I'm giving you until July 4." CBS News reports its own source backed up the July 4 deadline. But Politico also casts plenty of doubt on the idea that the shakeup will come to pass, citing two former rumored shakeups involving Priebus—at the 100-day mark and Memorial Day—that never materialized. On the much more speculative side, a source tells Politico Trump has floated ambassador of Greece as a possible landing spot for Priebus. (More President Trump stories.)

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