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Rex Tillerson has been sacked by Donald Trump, triggering shock waves, but not much shock.
The ousting of US Secretary of State on 13 March is just another of a long line of sudden high-profile departure from the Trump administration.
The exit was announced without explanation, but comes after months of restriction between Tillerson and the President. Tensions peaked near the end of last year amid reports Tillerson had called Trump a “moron” and considered resigning, which Tillerson has repeatedly denied.
Tillerson claimed that he only found out the news when Trump announced his replacement, Mike Pompeo, on Twitter (obviously).
To mark the occasion, here are all the top-level departures from the White House since Trump took office in January 2017, as reported by The Independent.
Sally Yates, US Deputy Attorney Genral, fired
Picture: Getty Images / Eric Thayer / Stringer
When: January 2017
Why: Opposing Trump's immigration ban. She "betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed ot protect the citizens of the United States", according to a White House statement.
Michael T. Flynn, National Security Adviser, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Pool / Pool
When: February 2017
Why: Discussed American sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to the US before Trump entered office. He was said to have misled Vice President Mike Pence about the conversations.
Katie Walsh, Deputy White House Chief of Staff, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Zach Gibson / Stringer
When: March 2017
Why: To join a pro-Trump group, America First Policies.
Preet Bharara, US Attorney for the Southern District of NY, fired
Picture: Getty Images / Spencer Platt / Staff
When: March 2017
Why: No explanation given. Senior Democrats suggested he was fired by Trump to stop him from investigating his financial affairs.
James Comey, FBI Director, fired
Picture: Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla / Staff
When: May 2017
Why: Trump said he acted on "clear recommendations" from Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Democratic Senators pointed out the constitutional crisis prompted by Trump firing the man in charge of investigating him.
Michael Dubke, Communications Director, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Win McNamee / Staff
When: May 2017
Why: No explanation given. Insiders claimed he had failed to "gel" with Trump's staff, Axios reports.
Walter Shaub, Office of Government Ethics Director, resigned
Picture: YouTube/Brookings Institution
When: July 2017
Why: Frequently criticised the Trump administration's ethical practices, telling the Washington Post he felt there was nothing more he could accomplish under the current administration.
Sean Spicer, Press Secretary, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Kevin Winter / Staff
When: July 2017
Why: Cited concern with Trump's decision to hire Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director.
Reince Priebus, White House Chief of Staff, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / AFP Contributor / Contributor
When: July 2017
Why: His resignation followed a public spat with Anthony Scaramucci.
Anthony Scaramucci, Communications Director, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Mike Coppola / Staff
When: July 2017
Why: Less than two weeks after he was hired by Trump, Scaramucci resigned. John Kelly, who had recently been sworn as White House Chief of Staff, reportedly asked the President to remove Scaramucci as communications director, according to The New York Times.
Steve Bannon, Chief Strategist, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Sylvain Lefevre / Stringer
When: August 2017
Why: No explanation given. Bannon's time in the White House had been highly contentious. Not long before he was removed from his post, he came under fire for an interview in which he seemed to contradict the President on several fronts.
Sebastian Gorka, Deputy Assistant to the President, seemingly fired
Picture: Getty Images / Mark Wilson / Staff
When: August 2017
Why: A White House official said: "Sebastian Gorka did not resign, but I can confirm he no longer works at the White House." This certainly suggests he was fired. Gorka had been divisive within the administration.
Tom Price, Secretary of Health and Human Services, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Drew Angerer / Staff
When: September 2017
Why: The resignation came after Trump made clear his displeasure clear over a scandal regarding private jet travel.
Omarosa Manigault, Director of Communications for WH Office of Public Liaison, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Drew Angerer / Staff
When: December 2017
Why: Manigault said that she had always planned on leaving the White House after a single year of service, so she can go ahead and live her life. However, she confirmed she was "upset" with some thing she had seen in the Trump White House, and indicated those issues were race related.
Andrew McCabe, FBI Deputy Director, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Pete Marovich / Stringer
When: January 2018
Why: His resignation came amid reports that Trump encouraged Attorney General Jeff Sessions to put pressure on FBI Director Christopher Wray to fire McCabe.
Dr Brenda Fitzgerald, Center for Disease Control and Prevention Director, resigned
Picture: AP
When: January 2018
Why: After it was revealed she had bought shares in a tobacco company.
Rob Porter, White House Staff Secretary, resigned
Picture: White House senior adviser Jared Kushner (L), White House chief of staff John Kelly (C) and White House staff secretary Rob Porter (R)
When: February 2018
Why: Amid allegations of abuse from his two ex-wives, which he denies.
Hope Hicks, White House Communications Director, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Chip Somodevilla / Staff
When: February 2018
Why: The last remaining member of Trump's original inner circle resigned one day after she reportedly told the House Intelligence Committee that she was occasionally required to tell "white lies" as part of her job. But she had been considering leaving her post for months, according to The New York Times.
Gary Cohn, Director of the National Economic Council, resigned
Picture: Getty Images / Mark Wilson / Staff
When: March 2018
Why: It came days after Trump announced new tariffs, from which Cohen reportedly tried to dissuade the President.
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