The problem, as a friend of the president told the outlet, is that there’s not necessarily anybody lined up to replace him. “It’s basically decided that Reince is gone,” the source told Politico. “It’s just a matter of who replaces him and when.” Speculation has swirled that Trump could tap his chief economic adviser, Gary Cohn, or longtime G.O.P. operative and Trump loyalist David Urban, either of whom might present a more confident alternative to Priebus, whose nervous, “stalking-butler tendency” is reportedly a source of irritation to the president. But it’s not easy to serve as gatekeeper to a president who refuses to be managed or restrained. According to Politico, both Cohn and Urban would almost certainly seek assurances that they would have power to control Trump’s day-to-day agenda, should they actually desire the job.

Priebus is in something of an impossible position. Repeatedly neutered by the president, the lame-duck chief of staff holds little influence over Trump’s unruly West Wing. “You’d think he’d just do the same thing as [Michael] Dubke and see the writing on the wall and leave,” one senior White House aide told Politico, referring to the White House communications director whose resignation became public last week. “It’s gotten embarrassing.” Still, Priebus is apparently going through the motions, hovering over the president, calling meetings, and rushing around “trying to keep tabs on his colleagues.” His colleagues, meanwhile, have reportedly sheathed their daggers, having determined that Priebus is essentially harmless.

Trump may have good reasons for keeping Priebus around, as much as he likes to talk openly about replacing him. With his campaign and associates under investigation by the F.B.I. for alleged collusion with Russia, keeping his longtime aides close may be the best way to keep them quiet—or at least under his control. If Trump fires his chief of staff, he can’t invoke executive privilege, exposing him to further liability should Priebus be asked to testify against him.