skip to main content

High-profile departures under Donald Trump

Donald Trump's tenure has seen a series of senior officials resign or be fired
Donald Trump's tenure has seen a series of senior officials resign or be fired


Scott Pruitt

US Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, who had been lauded by Donald Trump for his aggressive efforts to roll back environmental regulations, has resigned under heavy fire for a series of ethics-related controversies.

Mr Pruitt was one of Mr Trump's most polarising Cabinet members, cutting regulations on the energy and manufacturing industries, including a move to repeal former president Barack Obama's signature programme to cut carbon emissions from power plants, dubbed the Clean Power Plan.

He was also instrumental last year in lobbying Mr Trump to withdraw the United States from the global 2015 Paris climate accord to combat global warming.

But Mr Pruitt lost favour with Mr Trump's inner circle after a string of controversies, including first-class travel at taxpayer expense, lavish spending on security, the installation of a $43,000 soundproof phone booth in his office and accusations that he used his position to receive favours, such as a discounted rental on a high-end apartment from an energy lobbyist's wife.


David Shulkin

The Veterans Affairs Secretary left after drawing criticism for a damning report from the inspector general of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

It found that during a trip to London and Denmark he improperly accepted tickets to the Wimbledon tennis tournament and his chief of staff made false statements so Mr Shulkin's wife could travel at government expense.


Rex Tillerson

Rex Tillerson

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was fired after a series of public rifts over policy on North Korea, Russia and Iran.

Mr Tillerson was replaced with CIA Director Mike Pompeo.


Andrew McCabe

Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe was fired days before he was due to retire, with Mr Trump saying it was a great day for democracy.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said he was terminating Mr McCabe’s employment immediately after a recommendation from the FBI’s Office of Professional Responsibility.

He Sessions said a review found Mr McCabe allegedly "made an unauthorised disclosure to the news media and lacked candour" during a review of the FBI and justice department’s handling of an investigation into the Clinton Foundation.


HR McMaster

Mr Trump decided to oust three-star general HR McMaster from his role as National Security Advisor, replacing him with John Bolton, a former US ambassador to the UN.

Mr Trump had previously criticised the general for saying there was incontrovertible evidence Russia had interfered in the US election in 2016 that saw Mr Trump beat Hillary Clinton despite losing the popular vote.

Mr Bolton became the president's third national security adviser in 14 months.


Gary Cohn

Gary Cohn

Top White House economic adviser Gary Cohn announced his resignation in March.

The Wall Street banker opposed hefty steel and aluminum tariffs planned by Mr Trump.

His departure as director of the National Economic Council came after a little more than a year in the job.


Hope Hicks

Hope Hicks

Hope Hicks resigned from her job as White House communications director in February 2018.

Ms Hicks was one of Mr Trump's longest-serving aides.

White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said that the departure was not related to Ms Hicks' testimony to a congressional committee about a probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.


Tom Price

Tom Price

Health minister Tom Price was forced to leave the US administration last September, amid a scandal over his use of costly private jets for government travel.

He took 26 separate trips on private aircraft, totaling $400,000, according to Politico.

He had tried to put a lid on the scandal by paying back what turned out to be a fraction of the cash spent.


Sebastian Gorka

Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka left his role in unclear circumstances in August 2017.

Following reports of his resignation, a White House official said: "Sebastian Gorka did not resign, but I can confirm he no longer works at the White House.

Mr Gorka had reportedly feuded with General McMaster.

He was a divisive figure within the administration, seen by veteran intelligence professionals and diplomats as an ideologue with little real-world experience.


Steve Bannon

Steve Bannon

Chief strategist Steve Bannon was fired in August 2017.

The move ended the turbulent tenure of a rabble-rousing conservative media entrepreneur and political activist who was a favourite of Mr Trump's base.

Mr Bannon is widely credited with masterminding much of Mr Trump's election campaign.


Anthony Scaramucci

Scaramucci

After an extremely turbulent ten days, Anthony Scaramucci was removed from his role as communications director.

He had been sworn in the previous day.

In a statement, the White House said he was removed in order to give John Kelly a "clean slate" as Chief of Staff. 

His term is best remembered for the unprompted, foul-mouthed rant to a journalist about several of his colleagues.


Reince Priebus

Reince Priebus

White House chief of staff Reince Priebus was replaced by former Marine Corp general John Kelly just a week after Mr Spicer's resignation.

He told CNN that he resigned on Thursday 27 July 2017, with Mr Trump announcing that Mr Kelly would replace him via Twitter the following day.

His tenure as chief of staff came to an end during a feud with Mr Scaramucci.

The recently-appointed communications director had launched a foul-mouthed attack on Mr Priebus and Mr Bannon during a phone call to a journalist with the New Yorker magazine.


James Comey

James Comey

The FBI director was handling an investigation into links between Mr Trump's election campaign and Russia.

He was removed from the role - which is usually held for a ten-year term - by Mr Trump in May 2017, creating a firestorm in Washington.

The White House first claimed that he was fired due to his handling of an investigation into Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server, but Mr Trump then admitted it was due to the Russian probe.

At a congressional hearing in June, Mr Comey testified that he was fired for trying to undermine the Russian investigation.


Sean Spicer

Sean Spicer

The much-maligned White House press secretary resigned from his role in July 2017, ending a turbulent tenure.

The White House gave no reason for his resignation at the time, although media reports suggested it was due to Anthony Scaramucci's appointment as communications director.

Mr Spicer had been serving as both press secretary and communications director since Mike Dubke resigned as communications director in May 2017.

He was replaced as Press Secretary by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, while Mr Scaramucci served as communications director briefly.


Michael Flynn

Michael Flynn

The former Lieutenant General was appointed as national security adviser by Mr Trump in January 2017.

He was forced to resign from the job in February 2017 for failing to disclose the content of his talks with Sergei Kislyak, Russia's ambassador to the United States, and then misleading Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.