US President Donald Trump announced his decision to replace White House chief of staff Reince Priebus after just six months on the job via Twitter on Friday (28 July). Trump said retired four-star Marine Corps General and and current Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly will take up the position.

"I am pleased to inform you that I have just named General/Secretary John F Kelly as White House chief of staff," Trump tweeted. "He is a great American ... and a great leader. John has also done a spectacular job at Homeland Security. He has been a true star of my administration.

"I would like to thank Reince Priebus for his service and dedication to his country. We accomplished a lot together and I am proud of him!"

The abrupt announcement came as Trump landed aboard Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland after a trip to Long Island, New York. Priebus was also on the plane with the president.

It also came shortly after the new White House communication director, Anthony Scaramucci, in a foul-mouthed interview published by the New Yorker, accused Priebus of leaking to the press. In the interview that went viral, Scaramucci described Priebus as a "f**king paranoid schizophrenic" who would soon be asked to resign.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, however, said Trump and Priebus have been talking about his exit for two weeks while the president and Kelly had been discussing it "for a while".

"The entire administration loves him [Kelly] and no one is comparable," she said. "He will begin on Monday morning and a cabinet meeting will follow his swearing-in."

Twitter had plenty to say on the latest departure amid weeks of turmoil and reshuffling at the White House and erupted with a slew of memes, comments and jokes.

"Welp, it looks like someone's just been thrown under the Priebus", one Twitter user wrote. Another person said: "Man, the West Wing must have a revolving door on it. So far, all Trump has done is hire & fire people. That's what the reality show was for!"

CNN anchor Jake Tapper tweeted: "You may not be a "paranoiac" if they're actually out to get you."

"Let's face it folks: firing Reince Priebus and replacing him with a general is just the latest example Trump thinks of himself as a dictator," Amy Siskind warned.

One Twitter user wrote: "The f**kfest continues. The 2017 WH is hilarious."

WTF? Have you told @Reince45, yet?



You probably haven't. — PÃ© Resists (@4everNeverTrump) July 28, 2017

k I'll let him know — Josh Patten (@thejoshpatten) July 28, 2017

Trump needs to realize that HE is the problem and no matter how much he shakes up his staff, he will be ineffective at leading. Resign. — David Putnam (@davidmputnam) July 28, 2017

Trump literally threw Priebus under the bus and is now thanking him. This is the White House Jerry Springer show! — Eugene Gu, MD (@eugenegu) July 28, 2017

You must be having Apprentice withdrawals. That explains why someone on staff hears 'your fired' every other week. https://t.co/onVvYBCzft — Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) July 28, 2017

ðµThe 1st chief of staff goes under the bus Under the bus

Under the bus

The 1st chief of staff goes under the bus cause Scaramucci said soooðµ — Matthew Thompson (@Krazie_Kanuck) July 28, 2017

Suddenly I'm reminded of Macbeth: "It is a tale

Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,

Signifying nothing." Exit Priebus @Reince45 — Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) July 28, 2017

Did you hear that President Trump was injured today? It's true. He blew out his reince priebus. — Bryan Cranston (@BryanCranston) July 29, 2017

Omg it's literally game of thrones in this White House — Gregory McKelvey (@GregoryMcKelvey) July 28, 2017

6 months on the job (if we can call it that) and this is the 5th major staff member gone. The only well oiled machine is your tanning bed. — Danny Deraney (@DannyDeraney) July 28, 2017

I think in light of Reince Priebus this cartoon deserves a reposting#Priebus pic.twitter.com/y5V7lTH9m0 — Crotchety Carl (@CJF_NC) July 28, 2017

Priebus: fired

Flynn: fired

Deare: fired

Sessions: recused

Spicer: resigned

Dubke: resigned

Walsh: resigned

Short: resigned



So much winning — President Bannon (@PRESlDENTBANNON) July 29, 2017

No truth to the rumor POTUS thought getting rid of Priebus was just the season ending cliffhanger for Celebrity Apprentice @realDonaldTrump — Brian J. Karem (@BrianKarem) July 29, 2017

Reince Priebus, shortest-serving chief of staff in White House history. All the winning. — Scott Dworkin (@funder) July 28, 2017

What are the odds Priebus learned about it from the tweet? — Christopher Hayes (@chrislhayes) July 28, 2017

Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer, James Comey and Mike Flynn sitting around writing their tell-all book pic.twitter.com/azIUfg1G33 — Sana Suri (@sanasuri) July 28, 2017

This gif was made specifically for Reince Priebus getting fired on Twitter by Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/xVuWyUFQw6 — Dub (@WMsDiary) July 28, 2017

"We would like to thank Reince Priebus for his service and dedication during the Bowling Green Massacre." pic.twitter.com/vqU3UuTW0G — Diane N. Sevenay (@Diane_7A) July 28, 2017

My favorite thing about Reince Priebus is the fact that if you take all the vowels out of his name, it says "RNC PR BS" — Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) July 28, 2017

Reince Priebus leaves the White House.



Gen John Kelly becomes the new White House Chief of Staff.



Make Water Gate Again https://t.co/MMBnXR2Lm0 — Frederick Douglass (@HITEXECUTIVE) July 28, 2017

Here is their #1 selling flavor pic.twitter.com/w1UsnzlYZQ — Joe Cesare (@OneSixtyToOne) July 28, 2017

[hands over burn book] let it out honey https://t.co/9QPaWE1OUh — Tanya Chen (@Tanya_Chen) July 28, 2017

How do idiots like Spicer and Priebus feel after being used, abused and then dumped by Trump? They were warned.



Next up, Jeff Sessions. — Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) July 28, 2017

Don't give Priebus an ounce of sympathy. Agreed to work for malignant narcissist boss famous for saying "you're fired." What did he expect? — Adam Best (@adamcbest) July 28, 2017

Flynn -fired

Sessions - recused

Comey - fired

Spicer - resigned

Kushner - testified

Priebus - fired



...and we are only 6 months in. — Beau Willimon (@BeauWillimon) July 28, 2017

Oh, by the way...



Reince Priebus did NOT sign a non-disclosure agreement.



This is gonna be fun. — Kaivan Shroff (@KaivanShroff) July 28, 2017

Good bye, Reince. May you rest in Priebus. — Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) July 28, 2017