President Donald Trump’s announced decision last week that he will impose tariffs on aluminum and steel imports into the U.S. has also proven controversial. | Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP Photo Trump denounces reports of White House chaos, hints at more West Wing upheaval

President Donald Trump on Tuesday denounced as “wrong” reporting in recent days from multiple media outlets that his administration has descended into chaos, declaring that the West Wing is filled with “only great energy” but conceding that “I still have some people that I want to change.”

“The new Fake News narrative is that there is CHAOS in the White House. Wrong! People will always come & go, and I want strong dialogue before making a final decision,” the president wrote on Twitter. “I still have some people that I want to change (always seeking perfection). There is no Chaos, only great Energy!”


The Trump administration has been roiled in recent weeks by staff departures, internal turmoil and a battle over international economic policy that has exposed divisions not only between the president and other Republicans but also within his administration. Multiple news outlets, from the New York Times and Washington Post to CNN and USA Today, have written stories about troubles inside the White House.

Trump continued to push the idea at a press conference on Tuesday with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. He said many people have sought jobs at the White House.

"Everybody wants to work in the White House, they want a piece of the Oval Office, they want a piece of the West Wing," he said.

Perhaps most notable among the recent Trump administration upheavals has been the announced departure of White House communications director Hope Hicks, among the president’s longest-serving and closest aides.

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Another staff departure, that of former staff secretary Rob Porter, was prompted by accusations of domestic abuse against Porter by two of his ex-wives. Those allegations begat a wider controversy about why Porter had been allowed to work inside the White House for months under an interim security clearance and why top administration officials were not aware of the allegations against him earlier.

Revelations about Porter’s security clearance status eventually prompted the White House to downgrade the clearances of all officials working under an interim clearance, including Trump’s son in law Jared Kushner, from the top secret/SCI level to the secret level.

The Porter episode also cast a light on chief of staff John Kelly, who was placed in the White House to bring stability but whose management has been questioned.

Last week, Trump also railed against Attorney General Jeff Sessions. In an early morning tweet, Trump criticized Sessions for directing the Justice Department inspector general to investigate the FBI’s surveillance of former campaign adviser Carter Page. Sessions later responded that he would continue to do his job with “integrity and honor.”

The president even joked about the chaos at Saturday’s annual Gridiron Club dinner, joking: “So many people have been leaving the White House. It’s invigorating, since you want turnover. I like chaos. It really is good. Who’s going to be the next to leave?”

Trump’s announced decision last week that he will impose tariffs on aluminum and steel imports into the U.S. has also proven controversial, both within his administration, where multiple officials have opposed such a move, and on Capitol Hill, where top Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, have advocated against imposing fresh tariff protections.