James Braid, President Donald Trump’s point man on Capitol Hill, will soon leave that post ahead of a packed September congressional session and just over two months before voters will decide which party controls the House and Senate.
A White House official on Thursday confirmed the legislative affairs director’s exit will come later this month and credited him with helping Trump lock in several legislative wins, end a pair of government shutdowns and beat back lawmakers’ challenges to the president’s war powers. Trump’s social media account later posted a message echoing those sentiments, thanking Braid for his work and stating he would formally depart “in September.” The president, however, did not name a replacement.
Braid is expected to move to the private sector.
One Republican source with ties to the White House, granted anonymity to be candid, said the timing makes sense for Braid.
“Congress isn’t going to do anything from now until November. This gives you runway in the private sector,” the source said. “That’s aside from the fact the GOP may not control the House for the next two years.”
