White House Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said March 26 President Donald Trump maintains confidence in U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, MD, "at this point in time," according to a Politico report.
Mr. Gidley discredited recent reports President Trump intends to fire Dr. Shulkin during an interview with Fox News March 26.
"At this point in time though, [President Trump] does have confidence in Dr. Shulkin. He is a secretary and he has done some great things at the VA. As you know, the president wants to put the right people in the right place at the right time and that could change," Mr. Gidley said.
When pressed about the president's inability to fire Dr. Shulkin for lack of a replacement, Mr. Gidley said, "When the president wants to make a change, he will make it. He doesn't have to try, he doesn't have to guess. He has the power to do so whether he has a replacement or not, he can still make a change," the report states.
According to Politico, Dr. Shulkin has reportedly been viewed negatively following allegations of excessive travel spending and for claiming he has the White House's blessing to fire VA staffers accused of "subversion," despite having never received such approval.
Despite the White House's public statements on the issue, some media reports indicate President Trump is considering several potential replacements for Dr. Shulkin, including former Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Toby Cosgrove.