President Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE said Thursday that embattled Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt Edward (Scott) Scott PruittJuan Williams: Swamp creature at the White House Science protections must be enforceable Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE decided on his own to resign, underscoring he was not forced to exit over his mounting ethics problems.

“No final straw,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about Pruitt’s decision. “Scott is a terrific guy. And he came to me and he said, ‘I have such great confidence in the administration. I don’t want to be a distraction.’ And I think Scott felt that he was a distraction.”

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Asked if the decision was his own or the EPA chief’s, Trump responded, “it was very much up to him.”





Pruitt announced his resignation earlier Thursday as he became increasingly enveloped in controversies over accusations of improper spending of taxpayer money, self-dealing and inappropriate use of staff.

Despite those controversies, Pruitt was able to remain in the president’s good graces for months due to his aggressive efforts to carry out a deregulation agenda — as well as his praise for Trump.

“He’ll go on to great things and he’s going to have a wonderful life, I hope,” Trump said.

Pruitt is the fifth member of Trump’s Cabinet to be fired or quit in just 18 months, a staggering level of turnover for an administration.

Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle applauded Pruitt's decision to step down, with GOP Sens. Lindsey Graham Lindsey Olin GrahamSenate GOP aims to confirm Trump court pick by Oct. 29: report The Hill's Campaign Report: GOP set to ask SCOTUS to limit mail-in voting Senate GOP sees early Supreme Court vote as political booster shot MORE (S.C.), Chuck Grassley Charles (Chuck) Ernest GrassleyThe Hill's 12:30 Report: Ginsburg lies in repose Top GOP senators say Hunter Biden's work 'cast a shadow' over Obama Ukraine policy Read: Senate GOP's controversial Biden report MORE (Iowa), John Barrasso John Anthony BarrassoThe conservative case for phasing out hydrofluorocarbons GOP senator attacks Biden: 'I'm not sure what he recalls' Oil and gas is a partner — not an adversary — in meeting our economic and environmental goals MORE (Wyo.) and Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsClub for Growth to spend million in ads for Trump Supreme Court nominee Maryland's GOP governor says Republicans shouldn't rush SCOTUS vote before election The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - GOP closes ranks to fill SCOTUS vacancy by November MORE (Maine) all releasing statements saying Trump was right to accept the resignation.