President Trump Donald John TrumpUS reimposes UN sanctions on Iran amid increasing tensions Jeff Flake: Republicans 'should hold the same position' on SCOTUS vacancy as 2016 Trump supporters chant 'Fill that seat' at North Carolina rally MORE heaped praise on his new chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE Friday, revealing his personal title for the former Homeland Security secretary.

"He's brought something special to the office," Trump told reporters at his Bedminster, N.J. golf club. "I call him 'chief.'"

"He's a respected man. He's a four-star from the Marines, and he carries himself like a four-star from the Marines." the president added. "And he's my friend, which is very important."

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Trump named Kelly his chief of staff late last month, marking the departure of his first chief of staff Reince Priebus Reinhold (Reince) Richard PriebusLeaked audio shows Trump touted low Black voter turnout in 2016: report Meadows joins White House facing reelection challenges Trump names Mark Meadows as new chief of staff MORE, who quietly resigned from the post a day earlier.

In taking the post, Kelly entered a White House roiled by leaks and controversies. He was reportedly behind the firing of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci Anthony ScaramucciFormer DeVos chief of staff joins anti-Trump group Scaramucci to Lemon: Trump 'doubling down' on downplaying virus 'should scare' viewers Sunday shows - Leaked audio of Trump's sister reverberates MORE, who had been appointed less than two weeks earlier.