Screw This! Sean Spicer Quits

21 Jul, 2017

Sean Spicer quit his job as White House press secretary Friday after President Trump decided to tap Anthony Scaramucci as the White House communications director, according to news reports.

Spicer objected to the hiring, according to The New York Times and Associated Press.

Rumors began to circulate that the White House was considering making a major staff shakeup in May, in the wake of Trump’s abrupt firing of James Comey.

Trump blamed his press team, including Spicer, for failing to arrest the public firestorm that ensued after Trump dismissed the FBI director. Comey had been running the investigation into the Trump campaign’s possible collusion with Russia during the presidential election — though the press team had been left in the dark about the president’s sudden decision to fire Comey.

Spicer’s ongoing combativeness with the media was lampooned on Saturday Night Live in recurring appearances by Melissa McCarthy, who portrayed Spicer.

Spicer, who had served as the Republican National Committee liaison to the Trump campaign and a transition spokesman, called it an “amazing honor” when Trump tapped him to be White House press secretary. He initially was also tasked with being communications director when campaign aide Jason Miller, who’d been given the job, abruptly announced he no longer wanted it.

Spicer came to the post after six years at the Republican National Committee and 15 years in other communication jobs in Washington.

The RNC credited Spicer with helping lead a “dramatic turnaround” after arriving in 2011 when the RNC was deep in debt and had a “badly tarnished brand.”

Spicer helped improve Republicans’ social media efforts, surrogate operations, engagement with minority media outlets and communications training.

He’d previously served as assistant U.S. trade representative for President George W. Bush, handling media and public affairs.

Spicer also worked in various communications roles on Capitol Hill.

USA Today

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