6:07 p.m. ET, December 14, 2020
Trump tweets Barr is "leaving" White House
From CNN's Allie Malloy, Jim Acosta and Kaitlan Collins
After California clinched the Electoral College victory for President-elect Joe Biden, President Trump tweeted
that his Attorney General William Barr will be "leaving" the White House "just before Christmas."
"Just had a very nice meeting with Attorney General Bill Barr at the White House. Our relationship has been a very good one, he has done an outstanding job! As per letter, Bill will be leaving just before Christmas to spend the holidays with his family...," the President tweeted.
Trump said Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen would become acting attorney general.
A White House official said Barr was not forced out or fired. "He wasn't asked to resign," the official said, insisting there were no fireworks during their meeting this afternoon. "It was a very amicable meeting," the official said.
The official noted there were frustrations with Barr that may have risen to the level of discussing firing Barr. But the official said this was a very different situation — not like when other secretaries have been fired, the official insisted.
Trump had discussed firing Barr as recently as yesterday, a separate source said, despite how laudatory Barr’s resignation letter is.
Here's a look at Barr's letter: