Donald Trump facing staff exodus as they see 'writing on the wall' for four key reasons

Donald Trump facing staff exodus as they see 'writing on the wall' for four key reasons The midterms are looming and some in the White House are jumping ship, leaving the President with a growing number of departures - so what does this mean for Trump? Donald Trump is facing a growing mass departure of White House staff, with a string of senior aides preparing to walk as the US President looks down the barrel of what may be a rather turbulent second half of his presidential term. Several key figures have announced their departures in recent weeks, raising questions over the stability of Trump's inner circle ahead of the midterm elections. James Braid, a senior White House liaison to Congress, is due to leave his post on September 30, according to Politico. Last week, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced her departure, while Trump has confirmed that pardon attorney Ed Martin is leaving for the private sector. Their exits follow the announcement that White House counsel Dave Warrington is also stepping down. While staff departures are not unusual in Washington with a midterm election on the horizon, Trump likes to keep his inner circle small. His reliance on a crack team of key staffers and fiercely loyal aides could mean he feels the losses even more than most other presidents in his shoes – and it may pose a greater headache for the 47th US President. One former Trump administration official told Politico that some people were already "seeing the writing on the wall" and questioning whether Republicans would retain control of Congress. The official said: "I think people are seeing the writing on the wall and thinking Republicans probably aren't going to have the House, might not have the Senate either, and things are going to be stalled." They added that officials were increasingly considering their prospects once they leave government. "People are thinking, 'what are my post-administration business prospects? Is it worth taking these hits every single day, being part of these battles, and how does that hurt my prospects when I go to the private sector?'" According to Politico, there are four key reasons being cited for the departures. Staff are thinking about their next jobs and their "marketability". "If you want a decent job downtown, you need to bounce now, because there are still relationships to trade on in the majority," the person said. The concern is that if Republicans lose one or both chambers of Congress, the influence of current White House officials could drop off sharply. That loss of influence would make finding their next gig even tougher for White House staffers who may depart in the second half of Trump's term – essentially, their government experience and political contacts will be less of a bargaining chip for any jobs in the private sector. The looming midterms are another major factor. There is growing speculation within Trump's orbit that Republicans could lose control of the House and potentially the Senate. A Democratic-controlled Congress could essentially see a Trump government hamstrung by investigations, subpoenas and oversight. Legislation would also become tougher for the White House to push through. For the senior roles that already need to be filled in the White House, some will require around-the-clock commitment – especially for anyone wishing to step into Leavitt's shoes. She has already said the relentless workload was a large part of her decision to relinquish her role after returning to work following the birth of her second child. Leavitt added she had realised she could not be "the best mom" her two young children deserved while devoting the "constant time, energy, and attention" required by the press secretary role. Leavitt's comments seem to hint that being a close confidant to the US President comes at a gruelling personal toll of the 24/7 variety. Others seem to be wondering if remaining at the White House is worth it – both personally and professionally. White House staffers under Trump face a relentless stream of political battles, scrutiny, and controversy, with the US President's senior aides and inner circle expected to defend him and his agenda on a daily basis. One person close to the administration told Politico that it will come down to whether officials want to keep taking hits on Trump's behalf if doing so could ultimately damage their future career prospects. Despite the latest round of exits, Trump's second term has been notable for aides and White House staffers staying largely put. White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers defended the administration's record, saying: "President Trump has built the greatest political movement in history, staffing his administration with talented, dedicated patriots who work tirelessly to execute his agenda." She added: "This movement is bigger than any one staff member, and the President's mission to make America greater than ever before will continue unabated." Political analyst Chris Whipple described the coming period as "choppy" and "treacherous waters" for the US President, with Trump likely to struggle regardless of who fills the now-vacant positions at the White House. Whipple said he believes the president will likely face an "ugly and unproductive" two-year period if the midterms go the Democrats' way. So, with a mass exodus on the cards at the Oval Office and the midterms looming, it seems the US President may be in for some tough times, with fewer allies than ever before at his side.