At times last month, President Donald Trump was slamming Attorney General Jeff Sessions daily on Twitter. | Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Sources: New White House chief of staff Kelly called Sessions to assure him his job was safe

New White House chief of staff John Kelly assured Attorney General Jeff Sessions in a weekend phone call that his job was safe, Trump administration officials said.

The call was first reported by The Associated Press. Kelly took the job Friday.


The officials said Kelly told Sessions to keep up his initiatives at the department and that President Donald Trump's disappointment wouldn't lead to his firing, as Trump has occasionally suggested. The call showed that Kelly sees himself as an empowered chief of staff, but Trump could surely change his mind, associates said.

Trump remains angry at Sessions for recusing himself from the probe involving the president's campaign and potential Russian collusion.

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At times last month, Trump was slamming Sessions daily on Twitter. However, the president has offered no public criticism of the attorney general for about a week.

The men were face to face with one another on Monday at the first Cabinet meeting since Kelly took over the job of running the White House.

Sessions, an early campaign supporter, has been on the outs with Trump for several months, even as the two men largely agree on policy. The former Alabama senator has said he was stung by the criticisms from his boss, which have come on Twitter and in news interviews.

Tara Palmeri contributed to this report.