There’s word of another major White House departure. Politico reported Thursday that James Braid, the White House official who acts as a liaison between the White House and Congress, is leaving.
“Braid, from his perch as director of legislative affairs, has been responsible for shepherding President Donald Trump’s agenda through a narrow majority, a job that’s become increasingly difficult as the president has repeatedly clashed with members of his own party in both the House and Senate,” Politico reported of the news.
Braid’s future plans remain unclear.
Politico: James Braid to depart White House
Braid was a key bridge between the White House and Congress.https://t.co/11TZH1T1BS
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This follows the news that Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary for Trump’s entire second presidency so far, is also leaving the administration. James Blair, the deputy chief of staff, has stepped away from the White House temporarily to run the president’s political operation during the midterm elections.
Braid previously served as an aide to JD Vance. He has also worked at different times for four different members of Congress, and as policy director for the House Freedom Caucus. He had also worked in the first Trump Administration.
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” That resume made him a uniquely qualified Trump translator for Republican lawmakers. He was a blunt-spoken enforcer in the MAGA style, but with the relationships needed to push and persuade,” Politico said. “Braid was heavily involved in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the president’s signature domestic legislation and, most recently, helped shepherd a bipartisan housing bill.”
The second Trump White House, despite some departures of late, has had much less high-profile staff turnover than was the case in Trump’s first term, which went through four different White House Chiefs of Staff in four years. In the second term, by contrast, Susie Wiles has remained in place as chief of staff for the entire presidency so far. That could always change, however, after the midterms.
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