Two retired army generals working in Donald Trump’s administration reportedly made a pact that one of them should stay in the US at all times to monitor the President.
Freshly appointed White House Chief of Staff General John Kelly and Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, another retired general, allegedly came to the agreement in the early days of the new administration.
The accord, revealed to The Associated Press by an unknown source, was formed as an initial barrage of orders emerged from the Oval Office.
The former army bosses were said to be deeply concerned about the ban on refugees and immigrants, a directive that has since undergone numerous revisions.
Both former generals supplied clarifications to the order, with Gen Kelly seeking assurances that green card holders would be exempt and Gen Mattis seeking protections for Iraqis who helped the US.
General Kelly, who formerly served as Homeland Security Secretary, has been openly critical of the order, saying he did not think it "appropriate" to target individuals because of their religious or ethnic background.
The army veteran said he cultivated good relations with Muslim leaders while serving in Iraq to encourage stability.
General Kelly appeared to be imposing a new order on the running of the White House on Monday by ousting communications director Anthony Scaramucci.
Several Republicans have expressed hope that the veteran, who replaced the embattled Reince Priebus as Chief of Staff, could help restore order following months of internal feuding.
“The marines can do almost anything,” Senator Lindsey Graham said. “The marines have landed at the White House. They have a beachhead.”
