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Sean Spicer resigns as White House press secretary after objecting to new communications director

- AFP or licensors
- AFP or licensors

Sean Spicer, the embattled White House press secretary, has resigned – ending a tumultuous tenure attempting to defend President Donald Trump.

“It’s been an honor and a privilege to serve @POTUS @realdonaldtrump & this amazing country,” he tweeted. “I will continue my service through August.”

Mr Spicer’s decision was made following the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director. He will take over from Mike Dubke, who resigned in May.

Sean Spicer gestures outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington on Friday - Credit: MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA
Sean Spicer gestures outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington on Friday Credit: MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA

Sarah Huckerbee Sanders will take over as press secretary from Mr Spicer.

“This is obviously a difficult situation but I wish him well and I hope he goes on to make a tremendous amount of money,” said Mr Scaramucci, holding court in the White House press room, and repeatedly professing his “love” for Mr Spicer and Mr Trump.

He said the president “has some of the best political instincts in the world, perhaps in history,” and described Reince Priebus, the chief of staff who reportedly opposed his appointment, as being “like a brother”.

“I don’t have any friction with Sean, I don’t have any friction with Reince,” he said.

Mr Spicer had approved of Mr Dubke’s appointment.

But the hiring of Wall Street trader and TV personality Mr Scaramucci, with no Republican Party credentials and no experience in handling media relations, was unacceptable.

New White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci arrives to speak to members of the media after Sean Spicer's resignation - Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP
New White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci arrives to speak to members of the media after Sean Spicer's resignation Credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Mr Spicer was reportedly telling friends on Thursday night that if Mr Scaramucci was appointed he would resign.

Yet Mr Scaramucci pushed back at accusations that he had little media experience, emphasising instead his television career and role crafting a communications strategy in his financial role.

And, poised, charming and at ease, he set out on Friday to win over the press corps and promise a new era.

"You’re trying to get a job done, and you’re sitting in a fishbowl," he said, when asked about the challenges of working in the White House.

"I think you’ll find there is a lot less palace intrigue than is reported. Because we all genuinely like each other."

He vowed to "sell" the president's message more effectively.

"I think the policies are fantastic. We just need to get it out there a little more aggressively. And I think we are going to do that," he said.  

Mr Spicer’s departure had been long predicted, yet still came as something of a shock.

The 45-year-old had become perhaps the most recognisable face of Mr Trump’s administration – in part due to the savage mockery at the hands of Melissa McCarthy, who parodied him, to devastating effect, week after week on Saturday Night Live.

Spicer
Sean Spicer

Mr Spicer, an experienced Republican operative, was communications director of the Republican National Committee from 2011 to 2017, and its chief strategist from 2015 to 2017.

He was drafted into the White House largely thanks to Reince Priebus, the chief of staff, who worked closely with him at the RNC.

But he got off to an inauspicious start in January when he used his first press conference to berate the press corps for their reporting on the inauguration crowd size. That diatribe memorably led to Kellyanne Conway, a White House adviser, describing Mr Spicer’s words as “alternative facts”.

Deputy White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, flanked by new White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, holds the daily briefing at the White House in Washington - Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
New White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, flanked by new White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, holds the daily briefing at the White House in Washington Credit: Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

He was fiercely criticised for appearing to downplay the role of the Holocaust when he said that “even Hitler” had not stooped to the lows of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.

When James Comey was fired, Mr Spicer was caught off guard, and was described by The Washington Post as being forced to huddle with his team in the bushes to develop an on-the-fly strategy. Shortly after the article was published, The Post added a correction saying Mr Spicer was "among," not "in," the bushes.

Under fire | Sean Spicer's blunders
Under fire | Sean Spicer's blunders

Sometimes Mr Trump seemed to enjoy the furore.

“The guy gets great ratings,” said Mr Trump on April 27, when told that Mr Spicer’s press conferences were attracting more viewers than actual soap operas broadcast at the same time.

But at other points he was evidently irked by his new press secretary.

Mr Spicer, a lifelong Catholic, was pointedly not among those in the presidential entourage invited to meet the Pope.

Spicer
Sean Spicer on January 21, arguing over crowd size

His press appearances were scaled back, and he was increasingly replaced by Mrs Sanders.

When Steve Bannon, Mr Trump’s chief strategist, was asked why Mr Spicer was appearing less frequently, Mr Bannon texted back: “Sean got fatter”.

Mr Spicer, a reserve Naval officer, was known to have an impossible job, defending a mercurial president who has shown scant appreciation for facts or consistency.

He was also seen as representing the “establishment wing” of the White House, along with Mr Priebus, whose position is also now seen as imperilled.  

Spicer
Sean Spicer, far right, with Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus on January 28

“Many go on to lucrative careers in speaking and public relations,” said Dana Milbank, a political analyst. “But then, it’s hard to see whether this would work for Sean. He’s damaged goods.”

Yet Mr Spicer himself remained upbeat.

On Friday night he will appear on Sean Hannity’s Fox News show, along with Mr Priebus and Mr Scaramucci – an appearance intended to display a united front.

He told a Washington Post reporter that he hoped he was "midway through the book" of his life, and added that the last chapter could be called "exciting times".

"I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities," he said, when asked what he would do next.

Profile | Sean Spicer
Profile | Sean Spicer

The president wished him well, and said he was sure Mr Spicer would go on to achieve great success.

"Just look at those television ratings," he joked.