Baseball star Jose Canseco made a pitch at president Donald Trump this week, saying he may be suitable for the chief of staff role following the departure of John Kelly.
The Cuban-American joked that he may be able to help with the president's dietary regime and hinted that covert plans for a reorganization of the administration were ready to go.
The Major League Baseball outfielder tweeted yesterday: "Hey little buddy @realDonaldTrump u need a bash brother for Chief [of] Staff. Got a secret reorg plan already. Also worried about you looking more like a Twinkie everyday. I will buff you up daily workouts. DM me."
As reported by The Hill, it's not the first time that Canseco—who once appeared on the reality television show Celebrity Apprentice—had offered up his services to Trump.
Back in December 2016, the sportsman tweeted: "Hey little buddy @realDonaldTrump good pick on bobby for Japan. I would be open to Ambassador of Cuba job or Fed Chair. See u soon."
Trump said last Saturday that Kelly, a retired U.S. Marine Corps general, would be leaving the job around the end of the year. The Washington Post reported one day later that Vice President Mike Pence's chief of staff, Nick Ayers, 36, may take the role. Ayers turned down the offer.
Speculation also surrounded Rep. Mark Meadows, chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, but that too fell apart, the Wall Street Journal first reported this week. The candidate hunt continues as the president faces increasing heat from Robert Mueller's Russia investigation.
Michael Cohen, 52, Trump's former lawyer and so-called "fixer," was sentenced to three years in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress.
In recent days, the president has used his own Twitter profile to lash out at the Russia probe, a testimony by former FBI director James Comey and, of course, the chief of staff position.
"Fake News has it purposely wrong," Trump tweeted on Tuesday. "Many, over ten, are vying for and wanting the White House Chief of Staff position. Why wouldn't someone want one of the truly great and meaningful jobs in Washington. Please report news correctly. Thank you!"
An exact date for Kelly's departure appeared to be fluid this week.
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway suggested on Tuesday that he would be staying in his the role until around January 2 to help ensure "a very peaceful and pragmatic transition" for the next person. Whoever that may turn out to be.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jason Murdock is a staff reporter for Newsweek.
Based in London, Murdock previously covered cybersecurity for the International Business Times UK ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
