The Slatest

White House’s First Black Female Usher Has Been Fired

The White House on April 2.

Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

The Washington Post reported Friday that White House Chief Usher Angella Reid has been fired. From the Post:

The job is one that typically involves a long tenure — there have been just nine since the beginning of the 20th century. The White House declined to provide any specifics for the reasons behind Reid’s departure.

Despite the unusual title, the chief usher oversees all activities in the White House residence and works as general manager of the building, handling everything from the large staff of butlers, maids, chefs, florists and electricians to fiscal, administrative and personal duties.

Reid was the first woman and second black American to hold the position of usher and worked for the Ritz-Carlton group before being hired by the Obama administration. Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley speculated to the Post that Reid was dismissed for political reasons. “The Trump administration seems worried about Obama’s spies,” he said, “and there may have been a feeling that she wasn’t on page with the Trumpians.”