President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE announced on Saturday that White House chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE will leave his job by the end of the year, the latest and highest-profile move in a shake-up of Trump's team following Republican losses in November's midterm elections.

Kelly was picked by Trump in July 2017 to bring order to his chaotic White House. But their relationship gradually deteriorated as the president bucked at the constraints the retired Marine Corps general tried to impose.

Trump told reporters at the White House on Saturday that he would select Kelly's successor, possibly someone on an interim basis, within “a day or two.”

“John Kelly will be leaving, retiring. I don't know if I can say ‘retiring,’ ” Trump said on the South Lawn before leaving for Philadelphia to attend the Army-Navy football game. “But he's a great guy. John Kelly will be leaving at the end of the year.”

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Trump added that he “appreciate[s] his service very much.”

Nick Ayers, a Republican operative who serves as chief of staff to Vice President Pence, is widely considered the front-runner to replace Kelly as Trump's top aide.

Ayers, 36, possesses the political chops that some people close to the president believe he needs heading into his reelection in 2020. Kelly had not previously served in a political role, having served roughly four decades in the Marine Corps before entering the Trump administration.

But Ayers is a controversial figure in Trump's orbit and some of the president's aides have resisted his hiring.

The shake-up comes at a pivotal time for Trump , who is confronting the reality of dealing with a Democratic majority in the House next year as well as a rapidly escalating Russia investigation.

Presidents traditionally make staff changes following midterm elections, but the latest reshuffle has been tinged by Trumpian drama.

Next to Sessions, perhaps no administration official's departure had been rumored for longer than Kelly's.

The White House made a point in July of saying Kelly would remain in his post through the 2020 presidential election following a barrage of stories saying his departure was imminent.

But that did little to quell talk that the chief of staff would leave the White House sooner.

Multiple news reports on Friday said Kelly planned to announce his resignation in the coming days, with The New York Times reporting that he planned to tell senior staff on Monday.

However, Trump confirmed in his remarks to reporters on the South Lawn of the White House on Saturday that Kelly would be leaving.

The announcement came after Kelly attended a pre-planned dinner on Friday night with Trump and his senior staff at the White House.

Kelly and Trump's relationship had become frayed as the president insisted he operate with his freewheeling style over the chief of staff's wishes, such as making off-the-books phone calls to friends and allies and receiving former campaign hands for visits at the White House.

The chief of staff's standing grew increasingly tenuous as multiple reports emerged that he insulted Trump behind his back and butted heads with members of the first family and high-ranking advisers.

Journalist Bob Woodward reported in his book “Fear” that Kelly called the president “unhinged” and an “idiot,” and likened the White House to “crazytown.” Kelly had denied reports he called the president an idiot.

But Kelly continued to hang on to his job, reportedly in part because Trump was wary of firing the retired four-star Marine general.

Kelly became embroiled in further controversy in February over his handling of spousal abuse allegations against former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, a close ally.

The next chief of staff will face the tough task of rebuilding Trump's team at the White House, which has been hollowed out by a steady stream of departures.

But many senior, mid- and junior-staff level positions remain open. Two political aides, Bill Stephen and Justin Clark, left the White House last week to work on Trump's reelection campaign and more departures are expected as the year comes to an end.

While Trump has said staff changes are normal for any White House, he has set records for the rate of turnover compared to previous presidents.

Sixty-two percent of senior White House aides have resigned, taken other administration jobs or forced out of office, according to figures compiled by Brookings Institution scholar Kathryn Dunn Tenpas. That figure does not include Kelly's impending departure.

Trump previously criticized his predecessor, former President Obama, for turnover in the chief of staff position.

“3 Chief of Staffs in less than 3 years of being President: Part of the reason why @BarackObama can't manage to pass his agenda,” he tweeted in January 2012.