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Trump Assistant Spokeswoman Is Leaving the White House

Trump Assistant Spokeswoman Is Said Latest to Leave White House

(Bloomberg) -- White House senior assistant press secretary Kelly Love plans to leave her job for a position in the Department of Energy, becoming the latest in a series of aides to depart amid a reshuffle of President Donald Trump’s press team.

Love’s last day in her job will be Friday.

Some Trump communications aides have been shown the door, some have been assisted in finding posts elsewhere within the administration, and some left to escape the stress and intensity of working for Trump, people familiar with the situation said.

Love handled media questions related to agriculture, energy, legislative affairs, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department, among other agencies. During the presidential campaign, she handled media for Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump.

Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said on Thursday that Love "has been a valued member of the press team since day one of the administration. She will be promoted to the Department of Energy as principal deputy press secretary, allowing her to focus on issues she oversaw here at the White House."

CBS News reported Wednesday that Sanders and principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah were both planning to depart. Sanders didn’t deny the report that she has told friends she plans to leave by the end of the year, but said at the daily press briefing Thursday: “CBS got a little ahead of their skis” and “I love my job.”

Kelly Sadler, a communications staffer who worked with outside allies who speak for the administration on TV, left the White House earlier this month after a confrontation in the Oval Office reported by Axios about who was responsible for leaks.

The White House’s director of rapid response, Steven Cheung, left last week. Cliff Sims, a messaging strategist left the White House in mid May for a role at the State Department. Kaelan Dorr, the White House’s director of congressional communications, left in late
May.

To contact the reporter on this story: Jennifer Jacobs in Washington at jjacobs68@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Alex Wayne at awayne3@bloomberg.net, Mike Dorning, John Harney

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.