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Donald Trump's congressional whisperer is departing the White House as a staff exodus descends on 1600 Pennsylvania Ave and the president's approval sinks near record lows.
James Braid, the White House director of legislative affairs, is leaving the administration in September.
Braid has been responsible for liaising with members of Congress to shepherd the president's policy agenda through Capitol Hill, a job that has become increasingly difficult amid intra-GOP fighting and personal attacks Trump has lobbed at lawmakers.
His departure comes amid an avalanche of aides leaving the administration. Last week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced she would depart White House service at the end of this month.
Her former deputy spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson, left two weeks ago.
Earlier this month, White House counsel David Warrington, shared that he too would leave at the end of August.
Deputy National Security Adviser Andy Baker and Trump aide Emily Underwood also said they would leave the administration's employment this month as well.
The exodus comes as the president's approval rating has slid to near record lows. A new Reuters/Ipsos survey found that just 33 percent of respondents approve of Trump's performance, while 64 percent disapprove.
James Braid (center), the White House director of legislative affairs, is departing the Trump administration in September
Half a dozen top Trump staffers have announced this month they will depart the White House
Braid worked in the first Trump administration and later served as an adviser for JD Vance when he was a Senator before rejoining the White House staff for the president's second term
The survey's approval rating is the lowest of Trump's second term, and it ties his record low in his first term.
With the November midterm elections just under three months away, and Republicans' chances of maintaining control on Capitol Hill plummeting, the number of staffers fleeing the White House has been increasing.
'James has played a critical role in our many accomplishments with Congress, including THE ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL, beating the Democrats in two shutdown showdowns, passing the GENIUS Act, defeating a record number of War Powers resolutions, and the confirmation of my Cabinet at the fastest rate in decades,' Trump wrote Thursday.
Braid, who served as an adviser to Vice President JD Vance when he worked in the Senate, was also lauded by his former boss.
'Not only is James brilliant, he is one of the hardest workers you will ever meet,' Vance wrote on X.
It is not immediately clear where Braid will be heading.
Whoever Trump taps to head up the White House office of legislative affairs will have their work cut out for them.
When Congress returns from their August recess in September, there will only be a few weeks before the midterms, and a few months remaining for the GOP to pass legislation on party lines.
If Democrats win the House or Senate in November, there is an expectation that they will push to investigate Trump and his inner-circle, meaning whoever fills Braid's shoes will need to have a deft approach to dealing with liberal lawmakers.