Outside the Beltway

‘Javanka and Kelly are locked in a death match. Two enter. Only one survives.’

You’d think after 13 months in the White House they’d start understanding that there are rules.

James Joyner
18

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A thinly-sourced Axios story (“Scoop: Trump family v. John Kelly“) is making the rounds.

The piece, which looks like a blog media round-up, contains just one bit of information:

The Trump family — and the president’s oldest son, Don Jr., in particular — was angry about the overwhelmingly negative TV coverage about Jared Kushner last night, and feels White House Chief of Staff Kelly is hanging Jared out to dry, a source familiar with the situation tells Axios.

And this pull quote:

Javanka and Kelly are locked in a death match. Two enter. Only one survives. — A White House official

Somehow, The Hill, Business Insider, Salon, Mediaite, and Raw Story all managed to get pieces longer than the original out of it.

These are clearly people not used to being told No. You’d think after 13 months in the White House they’d start understanding that there are rules. Alas, it seems not to be the case.

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18 responses to “‘Javanka and Kelly are locked in a death match. Two enter. Only one survives.’”

  1. Doug Mataconis Avatar
    Doug Mataconis

    As I said on Twitter this morning, I really wish the media would stop referring to Jared and Ivanka as “Javanka.” It’s annoying.

    That being said, in the end I suspect any real showdown between Kelly and “Javanka” will end up with Kelly losing. It’s like the Corleone Family, a made member will always win over a civilian.

    4
  2. James Joyner Avatar
    James Joyner

    @Doug Mataconis: Agreed on both counts.

    3
  3. Mark Ivey Avatar
    Mark Ivey

    A fitting end to General Kelly’s career i say…

    3
  4. reid Avatar
    reid

    What a riveting reality TV show! *vomit*

    2
  5. CSK Avatar
    CSK

    I don’t think Trump will be able to resist Ivanka’s tearful pleas on behalf of her hubby.

    4
  6. MBunge Avatar
    MBunge

    If Kelly is the one that’s going to lose, isn’t he at fault for not knowing “the rules?”

    Mike

  7. CSK Avatar
    CSK

    Trump’s gone on a Twitter rampage against Jeff Sessions:

    “Why is A.G. Sessions using the Inspector General to investigate potentially massive FISA abuse. Will take forever, has no prosecutorial power and already late with reports on Comey etc. Isn’t the I.G. an Obama guy? Why not use Justice Department lawyers? DISGRACEFUL!”

    3
  8. michael reynolds Avatar
    michael reynolds

    Reporters don’t have to call their WH contacts for leaks, as one reporter pointed out in mystified glee the other day, the WH contacts call them. There has never been a White House this leaky –
    all of them hoping desperately for kind treatment in the many behind-the-scenes books that will come out of this sh!tshow.

    Among his many, many, many other failings, Trump couldn’t organize a two car funeral. Funny how the ‘community organizer’ managed to put together a competent, loyal, leakless staff, while Captain Bonespur the Mighty Businessman clearly cannot.

    10
  9. grumpy realist Avatar
    grumpy realist

    @michael reynolds: Captain Bonespur also tried to install marble into the bathrooms on Trump Airlines.

    We’re definitely not talking about someone who has that much of a grasp on reality.

    10
  10. CSK Avatar
    CSK

    @michael reynolds:

    As you yourself have pointed out, who the hell remotely competent wants to work for this baboon?

    @grumpy realist:

    Don’t forget the gold fixtures and the solid gold locks on the aircraft doors.

    4
  11. Franklin Avatar
    Franklin

    @Doug Mataconis:

    I really wish the media would stop referring to Jared and Ivanka as “Javanka.”

    I was okay with the combined name joke back when it was Bennifer or whatever the first one was. Then the joke got old. Same with adding “gate” to the name of any scandal. Let’s be done with that now.

    6
  12. JohnMcC Avatar
    JohnMcC

    Rules? There are rules?

    Prove it.

    2
  13. gVOR08 Avatar
    gVOR08

    @Franklin: Yeah. It is sort of like the boat propeller in the trailer hitch. Funny the first three out of ten thousand times you see it.

    1
  14. gVOR08 Avatar
    gVOR08

    I wonder if Kelly’s in a Viking Funeral mood. One way or another this ends. He either gets rid of Jared, or at least pushes him to the side, or Kelly goes down in flames.
    I wonder if publishers have approached him for his kiss and tell book.

    2
  15. Moosebreath Avatar
    Moosebreath

    James,

    “These are clearly people not used to being told No. You’d think after 13 months in the White House they’d start understanding that there are rules.”

    Umm, why? To what extent have any Republicans sought to apply any pre-existing rules to them? Instead, we get people like Devin Nunes and Trey Gowdy competing to see how much they can change the rules to reflect Trump’s desires.

    5
  16. James Joyner Avatar
    James Joyner

    @Moosebreath: It’s true that 99% of Congressional Republicans have been cowards in the face of Trump. But the failure to follow normal bureaucratic process has bitten the administration in the ass time and again, including repeatedly getting otherwise lawful Presidential actions thrown out in court.

    1
  17. de stijl Avatar
    de stijl

    James (from headline):

    Two enter. Only one survives.

    Bzzt! It’s “Two men enter. One man leaves.”

    @Doug Mataconis:

    I really wish the media would stop referring to Jared and Ivanka as “Javanka.” It’s annoying.

    The media should refer to them as “Master Blaster” with Jared (as the brains) riding around on Ivanks’s (as the brawn) shoulders.

    If I had better Photoshop skillz, I would totally make that image, cuz it would be awesome.

    http://madmax.wikia.com/wiki/Master_Blaster

    1
  18. the Q Avatar
    the Q

    Does that mean that Joynaconis is out too?

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