Washington (CNN) The White House denied reports Thursday that President Donald Trump is searching for a replacement for chief of staff John Kelly. But the President has been privately polling aides and outside advisers for months now on possible successors, while maintaining to Kelly that he is happy with the job he is doing.

"He said it is absolutely not true and that it is fake news," deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters told reporters Thursday.

"I've also spoken to General Kelly, who said this was news to him," Walters added. "So both individuals in question have said there is no truth to this article."

The White House similarly dismissed reports of the imminent departure of then-national security adviser H.R. McMaster shortly before he left.

Several people are considered to be in the running to replace Kelly, sources familiar with the situation tell CNN, including Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney and Vice President Mike Pence's top aide Nick Ayers.

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