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The president also insisted that the White House \"is running very smoothly.\"

The White House is running very smoothly despite phony Witch Hunts etc. There is great Energy and unending Stamina, both necessary to get things done. We are accomplishing the unthinkable and setting positive records while doing so! Fake News is going “bonkers!”

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018

This is not the first time during Kelly's nine-month tenure as chief of staff that the four-star Marine Corps general has been the subject of controversy or linked to chaos inside the White House.

In February, Kelly came under fire for his role in the ousting of former White House staff secretary Rob Porter. The chief of staff defended Porter amid allegations of domestic abuse, calling him \"a man of true integrity and honor.\"

Kelly was criticized for his handling of the scandal, including by the president. Two days after Porter resigned, ABC News reported that Trump was so furious over Kelly's handling of the situation that he spoke with confidants about possibly replacing Kelly.

In January, Kelly told Fox News in an interview that his boss \"has evolved\" since becoming president, appearing to embarrass Trump.

\"He has evolved in the way he's looked at things,\" Kelly said. \"Campaigns and governing are two different things.\"

Trump contradicted Kelly's statement shortly after, writing on Twitter, \"The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived it.\"

The Wall is the Wall, it has never changed or evolved from the first day I conceived of it. Parts will be, of necessity, see through and it was never intended to be built in areas where there is natural protection such as mountains, wastelands or tough rivers or water.....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2018

Last month, however, Trump struck a more adulatory tone with Kelly during a visit to the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, praising the general on his job performance.

\"He's doing a great job in Washington,\" Trump said of Kelly during his remarks.

Despite Monday's reports of a divide between Trump and his chief of staff, sources told ABC News that the two currently stand on solid ground.

ABC News' Meridith McGraw contributed to this report.

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