Acting Chief Of Staff Eyeing An Exit Strategy

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 3: Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney talks to members of Congress prior to the first session of the 116th Congress at the U.S. Capitol January 3, 2019 in Washington, DC. Under the cloud of a partial federal government shutdown, Nancy Pelosi will reclaim her former title as Speaker of the House and her fellow Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives for the second time in eight years. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

The White House may not want to print business cards for acting chief of state Mick Mulvaney. He may only be looking at it as a short time gig. According to The New York Times, the budget director has shown interest in becoming the president of the University of South Carolina. The current president,Harris Pastides, is exiting the job this year. The newspaper writes:

Mr. Mulvaney, a congressman from South Carolina for six years before joining the Trump administration, initiated a discussion with a senior official at the university late last year about the position, which is going to become open this summer.

Hogan Gidley, a White House spokesman, said that was not the case.

“Mick Mulvaney is focused on faithfully executing the job the president has asked him to do, and as such he is not interested in any other positions,” Mr. Gidley said.

The report goes on to say:

As of last week, a person close to Mr. Mulvaney said he was still interested in the presidency of his home state university, which will become open this summer.

Charleston, South Carolina newspaper The Post and Courier adds:

Mulvaney reached out to state leaders about a month ago before he was named Donald Trump’s acting chief of staff, said state Rep. Kirkman Finlay, R-Columbia, as well as two sources who asked to remain anonymous because of the sensitive nature of the talks.