Omarosa Manigault, the former reality TV star who earned a reputation as a schemer on Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” reality TV show, became one of the most prominent black women in the Trump administration.
Now she’s leaving the administration — either of her own free will or because she was fired.
The former reality TV star-turned-political-aide has resigned from her administration position, the White House announced Wednesday.
Manigault resigned on Tuesday “to pursue other opportunities,” press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. Her resignation is effective Jan. 20, 2018 — a year to the day since Trump took office.
“We wish her the best in future endeavors and are grateful for her service,” Sanders said.
On Omarosa's exit: I just talked to sources who tell me Omarosa was let go yesterday and that she was escorted off of the White House grounds by security. They say she is now calling friends saying that she left voluntarily because her year anniversary was coming up.
— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) December 13, 2017
Manigault was the most prominent African-American woman in the Trump administration, and “black Republicans had faced something of an existential crisis in deciding whether to fully embrace … a former Democrat,” BuzzFeed News reported.
“Omarosa did not come through the black conservative movement, and if she did she probably wouldn’t be in her position,” said Armstrong Williams, a longtime adviser to Ben Carson, in a March BuzzFeed News interview.
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Manigault was escorted out of the building, sources told BuzzFeed News. And April Ryan, who covers the White House and has feuded with Manigault, reported Wednesday there was “drama” around the departure and that she was “escorted out of the building.”
“Omarosa did not resign,” Ryan reported.
Manigault’s official title was Director of Communications for the White House Public Liaison Office, but in reality she had a more undefined portfolio that caused some consternation among her colleagues.
She was widely reported to wander into meetings to which she was not invited, or derail briefings with off-topic discussions.
In April, she also showed up at the White House with her bridal party for a surprise photo shoot, Politico reported, but was banned from posting the pictures publicly due to “security and ethical concerns.”
After he became chief of staff, John Kelly reportedly began cutting off the unfettered access to the president that Manigault enjoyed.
Manigault and Trump have known each other since the 2004 first season of The Apprentice, when Manigault emerged as the scheming breakout star. Trump later served as executive producer on a dating show, “The Ultimate Merger,” on which men competed to win Manigault’s heart.
Read more at BuzzFeed,
Sources say General Kelly did the firing and Omarosa is alleged to have acted very vulgar and cursed a lot and said she helped elect President Trump. The word is a General Kelly had it and got rid of her.
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) December 13, 2017
