Under Donald Trump’s presidency in the United States, many senior officials have been fired, often over disagreements. Trump’s atypical management often led to the announcement of these layoffs on social media, leading to intense media attention and numerous controversies.
James Comey, the FBI director appointed by Barack Obama in 2013, was fired by Trump in 2017. The firing was linked to Robert Mueller’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
In 2017, Jeff Sessions became attorney general. However, his withdrawal from the Russia investigation put him in Trump’s crosshairs, leading to his resignation in 2018 after ongoing tensions. Sessions has often been criticized by Trump on social media.
Rex Tillerson, secretary of state, who often disagreed with Trump on foreign policy, particularly regarding North Korea and Iran, was fired in 2018. Mike Pompeo, former director of the CIA, succeeded him.
National Security Advisor Michael Flynn was forced to resign in 2017 after misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia. Although he pleaded guilty, he later received a presidential pardon.
HR McMaster, another national security adviser, left the administration in 2018, often at odds with Trump on foreign policy. His successor, John Bolton, was also fired in 2019 for differences of opinion with Trump.
Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigns in 2021 after the Capitol events, expressing disagreement with some of Trump’s policies. Finally, David Shulkin, head of veterans affairs, was dismissed in 2018 following ethical controversies and alleged mismanagement.
