Chief of Staff John Kelly to leave White House by year-end: US President Donald Trump

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly will step down by end of this year, US President Donald Trump has said, confirming that he will anunce a replacement "over next day or two".

68-year-old retired Marine Corps general has been President Trump's Chief of Staff since July 31, 2017. In first seven months of Trump ministration, Kelly was secretary of Homeland Security. "John Kelly will be leaving  I don't kw if I can say 'retiring'. But, he's a great guy. John Kelly will be leaving at end of year," Trump told reporters at White House on Saturday.

"We will be anuncing who will be taking John's place...I shall be anuncing that over next day or two. But, John will be leaving at end of year. He has been with me almost two years w," Trump said.

Nick Ayers, 36-year-old chief of staff to vice-president Mike Pence, is Kelly's likely successor.  

re were reports that relationship between Trump and Kelly h deteriorated to such an extent that two were longer on speaking terms.

Kelly, who was brought in by Trump after he fired Reince Priebus, has been instrumental in bringing in a sense of discipline inside White House.

Kelly was one of several generals appointed by Trump to key roles, including defense secretary Jim Mattis, and former national security visers Michael Flynn and HR McMaster.

According to a report in ' Wall Street Journal', relationship between Kelly and Trump h completely broken down, leing president to tell an associate to "stop calling John" and to inste "call Nick, he's my guy".

Veteran journalist Bob Woodward wrote in his bestselling book 'Fear' that Kelly called Trump an "idiot" at he of a "Crazytown" ministration.

Kelly, however, denied such reports and stayed in post.

In France in vember for events marking 100th anniversary of end of first world war, Kelly visited an American cemetery outside Paris while Trump remained in city, White House insisting rain me a presidential visit impractical.

Kelly's exit from White House is latest in a series of reshuffles in Trump ministration.

On Friday, Trump said he will minate William Barr his attorney general, replacing Matw Whitaker who was named acting attorney general only a month ago. Whitaker replaced Jeff Sessions in top Justice Department post.

Sessions was fired after months of being attacked and ridiculed by president on vember 7.

Trump appointed State Department spokeswoman Hear Nauert as US' next ambassor to UN, replacing Indian-origin Nikki Haley who said in October that she would step down at end of year.

McMaster was replaced on March 22 with John Bolton as national security viser.

Scott Pruitt, Environmental Protection ncy chief quit on July 5.

Former secretary of state Rex Tillerson was fired by Trump on March 13 after rifts between m. On Friday, Trump tweeted that Tillerson was "dumb as a rock" and "lazy as hell".

James Comey, FBI director, who led Russia probe before Mueller, was fired by Trump in May last year.

Michael Flynn resigned in February last year as Trump's national security viser.

Earlier in day, Trump minated General Mark Milley as his next Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, nation's top military visor.

If confirmed by Senate, Gen Milley would replace General Joe Dunford who is scheduled to retire next summer. Milley currently is Chief of Staff of Army.

Trump described Gen Milley as a "great gentleman and a great patriot".