Chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE reportedly “blew up” at President Trump Donald John TrumpBubba Wallace to be driver of Michael Jordan, Denny Hamlin NASCAR team Graham: GOP will confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE and threatened to quit his position late last month.

Sources familiar with the situation told Axios that Kelly exploded at Trump during an Oval Office meeting on March 28, and muttered threats to quit while walking back to his office.

One senior White House official told Axios that Kelly was “venting frustration,” and referring to his comments as a threat was “probably too strong.”

Sources told Axios that the comments were not related to the firing of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin David Jonathon ShulkinVA inspector general says former top official steered M contract to friend Schumer demands answers in use of unproven coronavirus drug on veterans Former Trump VA secretary says staffer found plans to replace him in department copier MORE, which occurred the same day. Sources also said that other officials, including Homeland Security chief Kirstjen Nielsen Kirstjen Michele NielsenDHS IG won't investigate after watchdog said Wolf, Cuccinelli appointments violated law Appeals court sides with Trump over drawdown of immigrant protections Democrats smell blood with new DHS whistleblower complaint MORE, came to calm Kelly down.

Kelly also reportedly began packing up personal belongings, according to Axios.

The report comes just days after The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump ignored Kelly’s recommendation to fire Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chief 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, who has been embroiled in a series of scandals related to spending.

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Trump has come to Pruitt’s defense following reports that the EPA administrator stayed in a condo owned by the wife of a lobbyist for well under market value, and that his agency spent millions of taxpayer dollars on a 20-person, full-time security detail.

Trump has in the past reportedly considered firing Kelly and serving as his own chief of staff.

It was reported earlier this year that Kelly has frequently threatened to quit as a means of leverage to get Trump to listen to him.

Sources also told The Hill earlier this month that Kelly's influence appeared to be fading in the West Wing.

The Axios report comes after a string of high-profile firings and departures in the Trump White House, including Shulkin, the VA secretary, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson Rex Wayne TillersonGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Conspicuous by their absence from the Republican Convention MORE and national security adviser H.R. McMaster.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.