Boris Epshteyn is expected to remain in the administration, but possibly in a less visible role. | Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images Top Trump TV surrogate to leave high-profile post

Boris Epshteyn, a special assistant to the president who oversees Donald Trump's television surrogate operation, is expected to leave his high-profile post, multiple sources close to the administration told POLITICO.

The well known, combative talking head, who fiercely defended Trump on television during the campaign first as a surrogate and then as a paid campaign staffer, is expected to remain in the administration, but possibly in a less visible role.


"We are discussing opportunities within the Administration," a senior administration official said in an email Saturday night.

Epshteyn did not respond to a request for comment on Saturday night.

Epshteyn’s official job is to oversee White House officials who appear on television to speak on behalf of the administration, and defend and explain Trump on TV himself. He had been aligned with White House counselor Kellyanne Conway in pushing the administration to use Cabinet secretaries to talk about policies on television, and reduce the on-air profiles of White House staffers.

But Epshteyn had added to the impression of an antagonistic White House by throwing his weight around in network greenrooms in a manner that has further strained the relationship between the administration and the television networks.

Earlier this year, Epshteyn threatened to pull all West Wing officials from appearing on Fox News after a tense appearance on anchor Bill Hemmer’s show.

Epshteyn also earned a reputation as someone who is combative and sometimes difficult to work with, even when he arrives at studios as a guest of a network. He has offended people in green rooms with comments they have interpreted as racially insensitive and demeaning.

Epshteyn entered Trumpworld as a surrogate, thanks to a friendship with Eric Trump developed as fellow undergrad students at Georgetown University.