Trump fired chief usher in final 'petty' act leaving the Bidens stuck outside White House, claims report
Many sources have now claimed that it was Donald Trump and his family, and not the Bidens, who fired White House chief usher Timothy Harleth. The former president also reportedly sent other ushers of the official residence home on the day of the inauguration, which resulted in an awkward wait at the White House entry for the new first family.
Harleth was allegedly sacked by the Trumps to malign the image of the new president. A well-placed official not associated with the Bidens told the National Journal, “The Trumps sent the butlers home when they left so there would be no one to help the Bidens when they arrived. So petty."
Earlier reports blamed Biden for the firing of Harleth. A former senior administration official with Trump said that the termination came at the request of the new president. “The head usher enjoyed the confidence of the Trump family throughout his tenure. Any suggestion that his resignation was at the direction of anyone other than the Biden team is false.”
After Harleth was fired, he issued a statement that stated: “It has been an honor to serve as chief usher, a position whose loyalty is not to a specific president, but rather to the institution of the presidency. I am proud that I had the opportunity to lead the residence staff to receive the incoming first family with the utmost respect and dignity, not just for this administration, but for the future success of the office of the president.”
Harleth was placed on the job by Trump’s wife Melania in 2017. At the time, the former model had said, “I am pleased that Timothy will be joining our team. I selected him because of his impressive work history and management skills. My husband and I know he will be successful in this vital role within the White House.”
The former highest-ranking resident staffer had said at that time, “I look forward to applying my experience with hospitality, leadership, and political protocol in order to ensure the first family’s needs are met, while also protecting and preserving the rich history of the White House.”
However, now sources have said that the staff was shown the exit door hours before Bidens reached the door at the North Portico on Wednesday, January 20, afternoon.
A veteran White House social expert said, “It’s a big protocol breach for the president to ever stand in front of a closed door at the White House. That may be why there was nobody to open the doors to the Bidens. You couldn’t expect the Biden staff to know to do that. Doors are opened and closed by ushers. There are rules about all these things and everyone has their job.”
Another former senior White House official was quoted by the Journal, who stated, “It doesn’t strike me as strange at all that the doors were closed as it made for a nicer photo for the Bidens, which I bet the advance team requested. But what should have happened is that a Biden staff member should have alerted the usher or staff person on the other side of that door that it was time to open it. That was a staff mistake.”
However, an insider said that by Thursday, January 21, “the [usher] staff is back in place”. But Harleth, who is believed to be a Trump loyalist, reportedly won’t be called back by the Bidens.