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April 25, 2024
Timothy Harleth: Bidens quickly fire White House chief usher installed by Trump
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Timothy Harleth: Bidens quickly fire White House chief usher installed by Trump

By sdlocal / January 21, 2021
Harleth was hired by Melania Trump in 2017 to fill the important role of chief usher. Harleth came to the White House from Trump International Hotel DC, where he was rooms manager.

First lady Jill Biden’s office did not immediately respond to a CNN request for comment.

Harleth took the place of Angella Reid, who was hired during the Obama administration. Reid made history when she took the job in 2011 as the first woman to serve in the position. She was previously the general manager at the Ritz Carlton in Pentagon City, just outside Washington.

She was let go by the Trumps a few months after they took over the White House.

First female usher in WH history no longer in post

Chief ushers can stay through multiple administrations, however Harleth’s firing did not come as a surprise to several sources inside the White House.

The White House usher is responsible for the management of the building and oversees residence staff. “Construction, maintenance, remodeling, food, as well as the administrative, fiscal and personnel functions” fall under the role’s responsibilities, according to the White House Historical Association.

Reid was the White House’s ninth usher and the second African American.

The chief usher and residence staff are not political positions, and it’s highly unusual for someone to leave at the beginning of a new administration.

Stephen Rochon, who was the chief usher from 2007 to 2011, said the Trump transition team asked him to come back “to run the house,” but he declined due to family reasons.

“It really doesn’t matter who is president, or what party is in office,” Rochon said. “The permanent staff averages 25 years — one staffer was there for 50 years.”

CNN’s Betsy Klein contributed to this report.

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