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| Former Apprentice star on leaving Trump's White House: 'I've seen things that made me uncomfortable' | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Former Apprentice star Omarosa Manigault-Newman said she had felt uncomfortable and upset in the White House as its most high-profile African American woman, as she denied reports she had been fired from her post as an assistant to Donald Trump. | Former Apprentice star Omarosa Manigault-Newman said she had felt uncomfortable and upset in the White House as its most high-profile African American woman, as she denied reports she had been fired from her post as an assistant to Donald Trump. |
| She also hinted strongly that she had revealing and potentially damaging stories to share from her time in the Trump administration. | She also hinted strongly that she had revealing and potentially damaging stories to share from her time in the Trump administration. |
| “As the only African American woman in this White House, as a senior staff and assistant to the president, I have seen things that have made me uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally, that has affected my community and my people,” Omarosa said. | “As the only African American woman in this White House, as a senior staff and assistant to the president, I have seen things that have made me uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally, that has affected my community and my people,” Omarosa said. |
| “And when I can tell my story, it is a profound story that I know the world will want to hear,” she continued. | “And when I can tell my story, it is a profound story that I know the world will want to hear,” she continued. |
| In an interview on Thursday with ABC’s Good Morning America, Manigault-Newman also told host Michael Strahan that reports she made a scene while being escorted from the White House grounds this week were “100% false.” Several White House reporters including CNN’s April Ryan had relayed that after a heated, expletive-laden fracas with White House chief of staff John Kelly, she was removed from the premises. | In an interview on Thursday with ABC’s Good Morning America, Manigault-Newman also told host Michael Strahan that reports she made a scene while being escorted from the White House grounds this week were “100% false.” Several White House reporters including CNN’s April Ryan had relayed that after a heated, expletive-laden fracas with White House chief of staff John Kelly, she was removed from the premises. |
| “John Kelly and I had a very straightforward discussion about concerns that I had, issues that I raised and, as a result, I resigned and it will be taking place 20 January, when I leave this very interesting administration,” Manigault-Newman said. | “John Kelly and I had a very straightforward discussion about concerns that I had, issues that I raised and, as a result, I resigned and it will be taking place 20 January, when I leave this very interesting administration,” Manigault-Newman said. |
| She also denied reports that she tried to enter the White House residence to see Trump, calling those reports “ridiculous” and “absurd”. | She also denied reports that she tried to enter the White House residence to see Trump, calling those reports “ridiculous” and “absurd”. |
| The US secret service said on Wednesday that it was “not involved in the termination process of Ms Manigault Newman or the escort off of the complex”, but its statement seemed to suggest that she was in fact escorted away, just not by them. | The US secret service said on Wednesday that it was “not involved in the termination process of Ms Manigault Newman or the escort off of the complex”, but its statement seemed to suggest that she was in fact escorted away, just not by them. |
| The agency also said that: “Our only involvement in this matter was to deactivate the individual’s pass which grants access to the complex,” which seemed to contradict Manigault-Newman’s suggestion that she tendered a resignation for a date still more than a month away. | The agency also said that: “Our only involvement in this matter was to deactivate the individual’s pass which grants access to the complex,” which seemed to contradict Manigault-Newman’s suggestion that she tendered a resignation for a date still more than a month away. |
| One of Trump’s most prominent African American supporters, Manigault-Newman was an assistant to the president and director of communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison, working on outreach to various constituency groups. | One of Trump’s most prominent African American supporters, Manigault-Newman was an assistant to the president and director of communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison, working on outreach to various constituency groups. |
| But the office languished under her watch and Kelly had indicated that changes were forthcoming including her dismissal, according to two White House officials who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. | But the office languished under her watch and Kelly had indicated that changes were forthcoming including her dismissal, according to two White House officials who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. |
| The officials said Manigault-Newman was escorted from the White House complex Tuesday night but was later allowed to offer her resignation. | The officials said Manigault-Newman was escorted from the White House complex Tuesday night but was later allowed to offer her resignation. |
| A source familiar with Manigault-Newman’s departure told the Guardian that her refusal to defend the administration had long been a sticking point. | A source familiar with Manigault-Newman’s departure told the Guardian that her refusal to defend the administration had long been a sticking point. |
| Manigault-Newman “went dark after Charlottesville” and “checked out”, the source said, alluding to the moment in August when Trump denounced violence “on many sides” surrounding a rally which united white supremacists and neo-Nazis in a show of strength. The white supremacists marched carrying flaming torches and chanting “Jews will not replace us”. Trump said there were “very fine people” marching alongside the neo-Nazis. | Manigault-Newman “went dark after Charlottesville” and “checked out”, the source said, alluding to the moment in August when Trump denounced violence “on many sides” surrounding a rally which united white supremacists and neo-Nazis in a show of strength. The white supremacists marched carrying flaming torches and chanting “Jews will not replace us”. Trump said there were “very fine people” marching alongside the neo-Nazis. |
| White nationalists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest against a plan to remove a statue of Robert E Lee, the Confederacy’s top general in the American civil war. | White nationalists gathered in Charlottesville, Virginia, to protest against a plan to remove a statue of Robert E Lee, the Confederacy’s top general in the American civil war. |
| Demonstrators chanted racist statements, carried antisemitic placards and held torches during the “Unite the Right” rally, which was organised by white nationalist Jason Kessler. | Demonstrators chanted racist statements, carried antisemitic placards and held torches during the “Unite the Right” rally, which was organised by white nationalist Jason Kessler. |
| The march was met by anti-fascist demonstrators, and some skirmishes broke out before James Fields, 20, allegedly ploughed a car into a group of counter-demonstrators. | The march was met by anti-fascist demonstrators, and some skirmishes broke out before James Fields, 20, allegedly ploughed a car into a group of counter-demonstrators. |
| Civil rights activist Heather Heyer, 32, died and others were injured. Fields has been charged with murder. | Civil rights activist Heather Heyer, 32, died and others were injured. Fields has been charged with murder. |
| Manigault-Newman also was unwilling to talk about Trump’s civil rights record in the wake of his visit to the opening of a new museum in Mississippi on Saturday, nor was she willing to defend his support for Roy Moore in Alabama – a candidate who claimed America was last great during the era of slavery. | Manigault-Newman also was unwilling to talk about Trump’s civil rights record in the wake of his visit to the opening of a new museum in Mississippi on Saturday, nor was she willing to defend his support for Roy Moore in Alabama – a candidate who claimed America was last great during the era of slavery. |
| Her refusal to be a public advocate for the White House as its most prominent African American woman culminated on Tuesday night in a meeting with chief of staff John Kelly and several lawyers in the White House Situation Room that the source said ended with her departure from the administration. | Her refusal to be a public advocate for the White House as its most prominent African American woman culminated on Tuesday night in a meeting with chief of staff John Kelly and several lawyers in the White House Situation Room that the source said ended with her departure from the administration. |
| Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: “Thank you Omarosa for your service! I wish you continued success.” Later, in answer to a question from a reporter, he insisted: “I like Omarosa. Omarosa is a good person.” | Trump wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: “Thank you Omarosa for your service! I wish you continued success.” Later, in answer to a question from a reporter, he insisted: “I like Omarosa. Omarosa is a good person.” |
| But at the daily briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders admitted that Manigault-Newman had raised concerns during her time there. “I know she regularly brought up specific issues where they were talked about in meetings and we addressed them at the time,” she said, adding she was not aware of details. “It’s something that we take seriously and something we want to see improve across all fronts.” | But at the daily briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders admitted that Manigault-Newman had raised concerns during her time there. “I know she regularly brought up specific issues where they were talked about in meetings and we addressed them at the time,” she said, adding she was not aware of details. “It’s something that we take seriously and something we want to see improve across all fronts.” |
| Sanders was asked pointedly how many senior staffers in the administration are African American. She claimed: “Look, we have a really diverse team across the board at the White House. We always want to continue to grow the diversity here; we’re going to continue to do that and continue to work hard.” | Sanders was asked pointedly how many senior staffers in the administration are African American. She claimed: “Look, we have a really diverse team across the board at the White House. We always want to continue to grow the diversity here; we’re going to continue to do that and continue to work hard.” |
| Pressed further, Sanders conceded: “I don’t have a number, directly in front of me, specifically not African American but I can say again, we have a very diverse team at the White House, certainly a very diverse team in the press office and something that we strive for every day is to add and grow and be more diverse and representative of the country at large and we’re going to continue to do that.” | Pressed further, Sanders conceded: “I don’t have a number, directly in front of me, specifically not African American but I can say again, we have a very diverse team at the White House, certainly a very diverse team in the press office and something that we strive for every day is to add and grow and be more diverse and representative of the country at large and we’re going to continue to do that.” |
| Asked bluntly whether the celebrity aide had been fired, was yelling and cursing at Kelly and was escorted off the property, Sanders declined to “get into the weeds” of a personnel decision but said Omarosa would be back at the White House on Thursday afternoon for her last weeks in the job. | Asked bluntly whether the celebrity aide had been fired, was yelling and cursing at Kelly and was escorted off the property, Sanders declined to “get into the weeds” of a personnel decision but said Omarosa would be back at the White House on Thursday afternoon for her last weeks in the job. |
| Manigault-Newman’s exit comes at the beginning of what’s expected to be a wave of departures. Deputy national security adviser Dina Powell is also leaving early next year. | Manigault-Newman’s exit comes at the beginning of what’s expected to be a wave of departures. Deputy national security adviser Dina Powell is also leaving early next year. |
| Manigault-Newman, who drew a top salary of $179,700, was one of Trump’s highest-profile supporters during the campaign. She also worked with Trump’s transition team. | Manigault-Newman, who drew a top salary of $179,700, was one of Trump’s highest-profile supporters during the campaign. She also worked with Trump’s transition team. |
| A former contestant on the first season of The Apprentice, Trump’s former reality TV show, Manigault-Newman had long been unpopular with several senior West Wing officials, including senior adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Kelly. | A former contestant on the first season of The Apprentice, Trump’s former reality TV show, Manigault-Newman had long been unpopular with several senior West Wing officials, including senior adviser and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, and Kelly. |
| The retired Marine general, who has made it his mission to tighten White House operations and streamline how Trump gets information, has told aides that he wanted to curtail the number of White House officials with ill-defined positions and responsibilities. | The retired Marine general, who has made it his mission to tighten White House operations and streamline how Trump gets information, has told aides that he wanted to curtail the number of White House officials with ill-defined positions and responsibilities. |
| Kelly took away Manigault-Newman’s ability to come and go from the Oval Office as she pleased. During the first months of Trump’s administration, aides were known to wander in and out of meetings, a practice Kelly ended across the board. She also drew Kelly’s ire by occasionally going around him to slip news articles to the president. | Kelly took away Manigault-Newman’s ability to come and go from the Oval Office as she pleased. During the first months of Trump’s administration, aides were known to wander in and out of meetings, a practice Kelly ended across the board. She also drew Kelly’s ire by occasionally going around him to slip news articles to the president. |
| Manigault-Newman enjoyed a close relationship with the president despite the fact that he once uttered the famous “You’re fired!” line to her before dispatching her from the TV show. She held her April wedding at Trump’s Washington hotel, blocks from the White House. | Manigault-Newman enjoyed a close relationship with the president despite the fact that he once uttered the famous “You’re fired!” line to her before dispatching her from the TV show. She held her April wedding at Trump’s Washington hotel, blocks from the White House. |