Major Trump Ally in House Is Leaving

President Trump ally Mark Meadows on Thursday became the 21st House Republican to announce he won't run for reelection in 2020. In a statement, the North Carolina rep first elected to Congress in 2012 said the decision—announced one day before the filing deadline in his state—came "after prayerful consideration and discussion with family." Don't expect him to step back from his alliance with Trump, however. Meadows tells Politico that the pair have discussed "how we can work more closely together in the future." He adds, "I felt like filing and then potentially resigning at some point in the future would not serve my constituents in North Carolina best."

A source tells CNN that Meadows may join the administration but nothing has been set in stone. A founder and former chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, Meadows was considered for White House chief of staff in 2018. However, then-White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the "president told him we need him in Congress so he can continue the great work he is doing there." (More Mark Meadows stories.)