Who's next? Jared Kushner now among the 8 potential replacements for John Kelly

After news broke that John Kelly, the former US Marine Corps general who became President Donald Trump's second chief of staff, would leave the White House by the end of the year, the focus shifted to who could be next.

Trump's first pick, Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers, already turned the job down (and said he'll leave Pence's side next year), leaving Trump in a more challenging hunt than expected for a replacement.

Here are a few candidates who have been thrown around in the last few days as potential Kelly successors.

Jared Kushner

Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law BusinessInsider

Trump is reportedly considering Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and adviser, for the job.

A top Republican close to the White House told HuffPost that Kushner, Ivanka Trump's husband, has made it to the president's shortlist. The source and two others close to the White House confirmed Kushner's interest for the job to HuffPost.

On Thursday, December 13, Trump told reporters he is down to five finalists, saying he was now interviewing candidates for the position.

Kushner and his wife have faced opposition from both inside and outside of the White House due to concerns about nepotism.

Steven Mnuchin

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin BusinessInsider

Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, has also been floated around as a potential chief of staff, according to Reuters.

Reuters reported that Mnuchin, who has served the administration since February 2017, sees his role as Treasury secretary as best suited to help the president. However, The Washington Post reported that Mnuchin might change his mind and take the chief of staff position if Trump pleads with him.

Mick Mulvaney

Mick Mulvaney, White House budget chief BusinessInsider

The Associated Press reported that Mick Mulvaney, current White House budget chief and acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, is back again as a contender for the chief of staff role after Trump briefly considered replacing Kelly with him over the summer.

Mulvaney, the AP reported, is not interested in the position and would rather serve as Treasury or commerce secretary.

Robert Lighthizer

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer BusinessInsider

Robert Lighthizer, the current US Trade Representative, was also reportedly among the names Trump floated around. However, The Washington Post reported that some in the White House are reluctant to move Lighthizer from his key role in China trade negotiations.

Lighthizer, who landed in the Trump White House in May 2017, said in a Sunday interview with CBS's "Face the Nation" that he believes Kelly has "done a great job for the president."

When asked if he would want the role of chief of staff, Lighthizer said "the president has given me what is a very difficult job," adding that he has not been approached by anyone in the White House for the chief of staff job.

"I haven't spoken to anyone," he said. "I'm entirely focused on what I'm trying to do, and it's difficult enough."

Randy Levine

Yankees president Randy Levine BusinessInsider

NBC News first reported that Randy Levine, the president of the New York Yankees, as a contender for Kelly's job on Monday. Levine, who comes to this race out of left field, served in then-New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani's administration and was an associate attorney general under President Ronald Reagan.

Despite the speculation, Levine told Fox News he hasn't spoken to anyone in the White House about the chief of staff job.

"I have great respect for the president, but am very happy being president of the Yankees," he said.

David Bossie

Former Trump deputy campaign manager David Bossie BusinessInsider

David Bossie, Trump's former deputy campaign manager, is also an option, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Bossie, who continues to advise Trump, cowrote two books on the Trump White House with Corey Lewandowski, Trump's former campaign manager. Bossie is currently chairman of conservative advocacy group Citizens United.

He was briefly suspended as a regular guest on Fox News programs over the summer after saying an African-American guest was "out of his cotton-picking mind."

Wayne Berman

Wayne Berman, Blackstone Group senior advisor BusinessInsider

Blackstone Group senior adviser Wayne Berman made the shortlist, according to Politico.

Berman served as a top political aide at the Commerce Department under President George H.W. Bush and was also named as a potential replacement for Reince Priebus before Trump selected Kelly.

Berman has previously worked for various presidential political campaigns, including as chair of Sen. Marco Rubio's 2016 campaign as the national finance chair for John McCain's 2008 run for president. According to CBS News, Berman has no direct personal or professional connection to Trump, which may actually work in his favor.

Matt Whitaker

Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker BusinessInsider

Matt Whitaker, Trump's acting attorney general, might soon need a new job after the president nominated William Barr to the attorney general position.

That's why several publications, including The Washington Post, have identified him as a strong contender for Kelly's position.

Whitaker, who was scrutinized widely after being named as the acting attorney general, has publicly opposed the Russia investigation and remains close to the president, attending the Army-Navy football game with him on Saturday.

Out of the running: Nick Ayers, Chris Christie, Mark Meadows

Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie BusinessInsider

Trump's first pick, Mike Pence's chief of staff Nick Ayers, turned the job down, largely because the 36-year-old father of young triplets could not commit long-term to the job.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, once a challenger for Trump's bid for the Republican presidential nomination, was another option, according to The New York Times.

But on December 13, Christie took his name out of the running. In a statement that Times reporter Maggie Haberman tweeted, Christie said, “I've told the President that now is not the right time for me or my family to undertake this serious assignment."

Trump had asked close advisers what they thought of Rep. Mark Meadows as a potential replacement for Kelly. The chairman of the ultra-conservative House Freedom Caucus and representative from North Carolina has already been a close adviser to the president.

On December 12, he also bowed out of consideration. Previously, Meadows had told Politico that serving as Trump's chief of staff "would be an incredible honor."

"The President has a long list of qualified candidates and I know he'll make the best selection for his administration and for the country," Meadows said.

Who's next? Jared Kushner now among the 8 potential replacements for John Kelly

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