Mark Meadows: The Truth About Trump's Chief Of Staff

Mark Meadows is in the center of a political hullabaloo. Trump's fourth Chief of Staff made headlines on October 3 when he apparently contradicted a report that the president was feeling better, sowing confusion among media outlets by telling them, "The President's vitals over last 24 hours were very concerning ... We are still not on a clear path to a full recovery" (via The Guardian).

This isn't the first time that Meadows is in the middle of a press storm. In 2016, as Representative for North Carolina's 11th District, Mark Meadows made headlines for keeping his own Chief of Staff, Kenny West, who had been accused of sexual harassment, on his payroll (via Citizen Times). Meadows gave West his full salary for nine months after the allegations, despite the fact that West did little work and was barred from entering Meadow's Washington and District offices. The congressman eventually paid $40,625 in salary payments to West out of his own pocket (via GovTrack).

Despite the scandal, during his tenure in Congress, Vox called Meadows "the most powerful man in the House." The congressman, who ran on a platform of "life, liberty, and lower taxes," served as Chairman of the ultraconservative coalition of Republicans, "The Freedom Caucus." In this capacity, he instigated both the 2013 government shutdown during which Republicans failed to defund Obamacare, and the 2018 shutdown, during which Trump failed to fund his border wall (via The Washington Post). He also had a direct line to President Trump. 

These days, Mark Meadows is handing out chocolates to Trump fans outside Walter Reed, thanking them for supporting the President (via Newsweek). Even back in 2017, Meadows was on the phone with Trump nearly every day, having saved Trump's number in his iPhone as "VIP POTUS" (via Vox). 

It's a far cry from his start. A self-described "fat kid," Meadows married at 20 years old, and began his career in an electric utility company (via USA Today). Meadows would open a modest sandwich shop, before making it big in real estate. Then, in 2012, he became a congressman, promising to bring a "sound business approach to Washington, DC." He was reelected twice. 

While Meadows became Trump's Chief of Staff in early 2020, he doesn't expect to stay. Maybe that's because Meadows has crossed hairs with Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, both over COVID-19 policies and the White house's staff management. Whatever the reason for his apparent eagerness to jump ship, Politico says that Meadows has admitted to "struggling," telling people that even if Trump is reelected, he'll stay on for no more than a year after Trump's reelection. Until then, Meadows will keep enjoying the luxuries involved with being in Trump's inner circle. Sources for example, told Politico, that the Chief of Staff loves Air Force One so much he has a copy of its menu on display in his office.