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 reportedly considered firing chief of staff John Kelly John Francis KellyMORE earlier this month and fulfilling the duties himself rather than naming a replacement.

NBC News reported Thursday that Trump suggested to others outside the White House that he would leave the chief of staff position open. He would then receive direct reports from a handful of top aides, in a set-up that would resemble how he operated the Trump Organization.

Trump has reportedly tabled the concept for the time being.

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The report was published hours after former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon suggested at a Financial Times event that if Kelly were to depart the administration, Trump would not replace him.

Trump and Kelly have reportedly clashed at various times since Kelly took over for 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 last summer. However, the president is said to have recently told advisers that Kelly's job is "100 percent safe."

Reported discussions about the future of Kelly's role come amid a major shake-up in the Trump administration.

Trump announced Thursday that national security adviser H.R. McMaster will leave his post on April 9 and will be replaced by former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton.

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 was fired last week, and top economic adviser Gary Cohn Gary David CohnGary Cohn: 'I haven't made up my mind' on vote for president in November Kushner says 'Alice in Wonderland' describes Trump presidency: Woodward book Former national economic council director: I agree with 50 percent of House Democrats' HEROES Act MORE resigned earlier this month.