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Omarosa on White House role: Saw things that 'made me uncomfortable'

By Allen Cone
Omarosa Manigault Newman will leave her White House position as Office of Public Liaison communications director on January 20. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI
Omarosa Manigault Newman will leave her White House position as Office of Public Liaison communications director on January 20. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo

Dec. 14 (UPI) -- White House communications officer Omarosa Manigault Newman, who will leave her position next month, said in an interview Thursday that she saw things in the Trump administration that made her "uncomfortable."

The former contestant on The Apprentice told ABC News that media reports that she was fired by chief of staff John Kelly and escorted off the White House grounds were untrue.

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The Secret Service also said in a tweet that agents did not physically remove her from the White House.

Manigault Newman said agents deactivated her pass and reduced her access to more classified areas, after a "candid conversation" in the White House Situation Room.

"John Kelly and I had a very straightforward discussion about concerns that I had, issues that I raised and, as a result, I resigned," Manigault Newman said, adding that there "were a lot of things that I observed during the last year that I was very unhappy with."

Manigault Newman said Kelly, a retired Marine general, brought "much needed order to the West Wing."

"When I have my story to tell as the only African-American woman in this White House ... I have seen things that have made me uncomfortable, that have upset me, that have affected me deeply and emotionally, that has affected my community and my people. And when I can tell my story, it is a profound story that I know the world will want to hear."

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On Wednesday, the White House said Manigault Newman, 43, was leaving "to pursue other opportunities" and will depart her position as Office of Public Liaison communications director on Jan. 20 -- exactly one year after she began.

At the White House, Manigault Newman is in charge of outreach to the leaders of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. She also oversaw Trump's visit to the Smithsonian's African-American museum in Washington.

During three seasons of The Apprentice in 2004, 2008 and 2013 -- which featured Trump as the boss -- she was known by only her first name.

Trump tweeted Wednesday, "Thank you Omarosa for your service! I wish you continued success."

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