'Honor to serve our nation': Pence chief of staff Nick Ayers confirms his departure

Nick Ayers, the chief of staff for vice president Mike Pence, confirmed that he is leaving the Trump administration.

Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. ?? #Georgia

— Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018

Ayers was expected to be leaving, but some wondered if he might be considered to replace John Kelly as President Trump’s chief of staff.

BREAKING: Nick Ayers is NOT going to be Trump's next chief of staff — not even on an interim basis.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) December 9, 2018

Trump reportedly wanted Ayers.

Trump wants Nick Ayers, who has young kids returning to Georgia and who has told Trump he could stay on in an interim way till spring. Trump, unhappy about the chaos storyline, wants someone full time https://t.co/cAfreVtaSJ

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 8, 2018

Instead, Ayers is now going to be transitioning to working with the America First Super Pac to assist with reelecting Trump in 2020.

Sources tell me Pence Chief of staff, Nick Ayers WILL NOT move to the West Wing and will transition to a super PAC. @realDonaldTrump expected to decide on new chief of staff by end of the year.

— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) December 9, 2018

The administration confirmed over the weekend that Kelly would be stepping down by the end of the year.