WASHINGTON \u2014 Raised voices could be heard through the thick door to the Oval Office as John Kelly \u2014 then secretary of Homeland Security \u2014 offered some tough talk to President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly, a whip-cracking retired general who was sworn in as White House chief of staff on Monday, had demanded to speak to the president alone after Trump complained loudly that the U.S. was admitting travelers from countries he viewed as high risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly first tried to explain to Trump that the admissions were standard \u2014 some people had legitimate reasons to visit the country \u2014 but the president insisted that it was making him look bad, according to an administration official familiar with the exchange about a month ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly then demanded that other advisers leave the room so he could speak to the president frankly. Trump refused at first, but agreed when Kelly insisted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was an early indication that Kelly, a decorated retired Marine general who served three tours in Iraq, is not afraid to stand up to his commander-in-chief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Tapped to bring order to a chaotic West Wing, Kelly began to make his mark immediately on Monday, ousting newly appointed communications director Anthony Scaramucci and revising a dysfunctional command structure that has bred warring factions. From now on, said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, all senior staffers \u2014 including the president\u2019s son-in-law Jared Kushner and chief strategist Steve Bannon \u2014 will report to Kelly instead of the president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly \u201cwill bring new structure, discipline and strength\u201d to the White House, Sanders said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt definitely has the fingerprints of a new sheriff in town,\u201d said Blain Rethmeier, who guided Kelly through the Senate confirmation process for the Homeland Security post. Rethmeier said that what stood out about Kelly during the time they worked together was the way Kelly commanded respect from everyone he encountered \u2014 and the way he respected others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly drew praise from lawmakers of both parties Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., expressed confidence that Kelly can help restore order, saying on NBC\u2019s \u201cToday\u201d show that \u201cthe Marines have landed at the White House. They have a beachhead.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois told CNN that Kelly \u201cis in a position where he can stabilize this White House, that\u2019s good for this country. The president has to be part of that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Jason Miller, a senior communications adviser during the Trump presidential campaign, predicted on CNN that Kelly\u2019s next move will be to put people in place that will help the president. He suggested Kelly should convince ousted press secretary Sean Spicer to stay on, at least through the tax overhaul effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly fostered a reputation as an outspoken commander who didn\u2019t shy away from unpopular opinions during his military career. Rethmeier said that Kelly also respects authority deeply \u2014 \u201cand that\u2019s something that Trump sort of smells out, if you respect him or not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf he disagrees with you, he\u2019ll disagree respectfully,\u201d Rethmeier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a point Kelly made clear during his confirmation hearing in January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI have never had a problem speaking truth to power, and I firmly believe that those in power deserve full candor and my honest assessment and recommendations. I also value people that work for me speaking truth to power,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In April, Kelly bluntly challenged members of Congress critical of the Trump administration\u2019s aggressive approach to immigration enforcement to either change the laws or \u201cshut up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But after being confirmed as part of Trump\u2019s Cabinet, Kelly also tried to moderate some of the president\u2019s hard-line positions, even as he publicly defended them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hours after Trump said deportations of people in the U.S. illegally were being carried out as a \u201cmilitary operation,\u201d Kelly said the U.S. would not enlist the military to enforce immigration laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kelly and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, another retired general, were also said to have been deeply frustrated with the rollout of Trump\u2019s refugee and immigration ban, and made clear to associates that they were not involved in drafting it or aware of its details around the time that Trump signed the original order. Both moved swiftly to address gaps in the measure, with Mattis asking that Iraqis who helped U.S. troops be exempt and Kelly clarifying that green-card holders would not be affected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nonetheless, Kelly launched a particularly robust defense of the order to lawmakers and reporters, which was welcomed by the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mattis and Kelly also agreed in the earliest weeks of Trump\u2019s presidency that one of them should remain in the United States at all times to keep tabs on the orders rapidly emerging from the White House, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The official insisted on anonymity in order to discuss the administration\u2019s internal dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn, said Monday that he discussed Kelly\u2019s appointment with Trump and hopes Kelly \u201cwill do everything possible to bring the appropriate discipline and focus that needs to be at the White House there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI hope that Gen. Kelly will absolutely, forcefully clean the place up,\u201d Corker said. \u201cAnd anybody who\u2019s been a violator, who\u2019s been a part of public backbiting, part of undermining, who\u2019s been part of feathering their own nest at other people\u2019s expense, I hope they\u2019ll all be gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David B. Cohen, a University of Akron political science professor writing a book on chiefs of staff, applauded Kelly for doing \u201cthings that should have been done on Day One of Reince Priebus\u2019s tenure.\u201d He said Scaramucci\u2019s removal sent a clear message \u201cthat going off-script and being undisciplined\u201d would no longer be tolerated at the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\t