Trump team shakeup: Who's safe, who's on thin ice

With the White House struggling to contain one crisis after another, the resignation this week of the communications director served to fuel speculation of an imminentstaff shakeup.

On the job for only three months, Michael Dubke left, he said, for "personal reasons."But U.S. President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed frustration with his his team, particularly those within communications, who have been unable to effectively dampen fires and control his message.

In some cases those things can be helpful; in some cases they're like putting a fresh set of paint on a buildingthat's falling apart.- MattMackowiak, political consultant

"I think Trump feelsa shakeup may give him a chance to refresh his presidencyand recast it," said MattMackowiak, a Republican strategist and D.C.-based political and crisis communications consultant.

"In some cases those things can be helpful, they can be effective; insome cases they're like putting a fresh set of paint on a buildingthat's falling apart," he said.

Normally, such potential staff changes might be of interest purely to Washington insiders, but many of the key players in this administration have becomepseudo celebrities in their own rights. Besides,said Mackowiak, new staffers may influence the behaviour of the president, who himself has been the source of many of the problems.

Here's a list of some of Trump's key staff members and theirpossible future in his administration:

Reince Priebus

Priebus, the chief of staff, isbelieved to be in the most precarious position, along with press secretary SeanSpicer.

Nearly from the beginning of thisadministrationsome Trump backers have had theirknives out for theformer chair of theRepublican National Committee, viewed by some as part of the party establishment. Now many hold Priebus responsible forproblems within the White House.

There is also criticismthat "he's in over his head, overwhelmed, [doesn't] have the right skill set for the job," said Tom Bevan, executive editor of RealClearPolitics.com.

According to some reports, Priebus could be dispatchedto serve as the U.S. ambassador to Greece. But Trump also values loyalty, so while Priebus may be removed from his current post, he could also be moved to another role in the administration.

"I don't really see him being out," said one Republican strategistwho did not want to be identified."It really was Priebus who stuckhis neck out on the line a lot of times for Trump when people were bumpy on whether Trump could pull it off."

Sean Spicer

Mercilessly mocked on Saturday Night Liveviaa devastatingimpersonation by Melissa McCarthy, Spicer'stesty exchanges with D.C. bureaureporters have become must-watch television.

But while Spicer's briefings have generated unusually high ratings a bonus for the ratings-conscious president Trump has reportedly expressed frustration with his performance. More importantly, Spicer'sfate may be linked to Priebus, who worked with him at the RNC and who lobbied for him forthe role of press secretary.

• Spicer,Priebuswelcomejobs data in tweets that may have broken rules

There's talk Spicer's role could be minimized and that hecould be replaced at the briefings podium by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who has stood in for him. There arealready plansto have cabinet secretaries come out more often to take questions from the press on specific issues, meaning more of a background role for Spicer.

Jared Kushner

Wouldthe president fire his own son-in-law?

Kushner, considered one of Trump's most trusted advisers, has nevertheless been a recent lightning rod for controversy over his contacts with Russian officials.

But Trump has defendedKushner on Twitter, dismissing stories about him as "fabricated lies."

"I don't think Jared is in danger of being relieved of his duties," Bevan said. "Certainly people in the White House have more to fear than he does if there's a shakeup."

The Republican strategist said:"His son-in-law is his son-in-law. Whetheror not hestays as the top go-to guy is a different story."

Steve Bannon

Trump's chief strategist has been among the most controversial of Trump's hires, mainly for his ties to the alt-right. He has been portrayed as the Grim Reaper on Saturday Night Live,a sketch that reportedly upset Trumpfor its insinuationthat the president was a puppet being manipulated by Bannon. There were also reports the president was bothered bya Time magazine front page article aboutBannon'sinfluence over Trump.

Meanwhile, Bannon'sremoval from the National Security Councilprincipals committee and stories about spats between himPriebus and Kushnerled many to believe his time at the White House may be limited.

• SNL pokes fun atBannon-Kushner'feud' and SeanSpiceras the Easter bunny

But Bannon'spublic profile has receded, andhe too is considered a loyalist tothe president.

"Trump likes him and respects him. He comes from that 'AmericaFirst' wing," said Bevan. "But at the same time it wouldn't shock me if there was a reorganizationin the White House and he was included."

Kellyanne Conway

The counsellor to the president has certainly been a good soldier, even if there arestretches when she fades from the spotlight as one of his spokespeople.

So far, there doesn't seem to be any fallout from recent claims by the hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joethat she complained about Trump to them before his election and saidshe was only campaigning for him for the money (claims Conway has dismissed).

"Trump loves her and has spoken in glowing terms about how shewill take on all comers and ... battle," said Bevan."I think that's what he likes and respects about her, and she continuesto do that."

Corey Lewandowski

Trump's former campaign managerhas been rumoured to betaking on a role inanew so-called war roombeing established to combat near-daily headlines relating to the Trump team's alleged ties to Russia.But whether Lewandowskiwould have an actual role inside the White Houseor play more of an outside advisory roleis unknown.

"Trump trusts him," said the Republican strategist. "The question is: Does anyone else in the White House trust Corey? I think that's a bigger issue."