WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama announced Friday that his new chief of staff is longtime trusted aide Denis McDonough, whom the president described as a close friend unafraid to deliver straight talk.

McDonough has been a longtime foreign policy adviser to the president and is popular among the White House staff. Obama made the announcement in the East Room of the White House with McDonough and outgoing chief of staff Jack Lew, who has been nominated as treasury secretary, at his side.