White House press secretary Sean Spicer resigned on Friday, the New York Times first reported.
His departure was reportedly in response to President Donald Trump's appointment of Anthony Scaramucci to White House communications director.
Scaramucci is a Wall Street financier and was a campaign fundraiser for Trump. He'd fill the position left vacant by Mike Dubke, who resigned in May. Spicer had been carrying out the responsibilities of communications director since.
Spicer's short,yet "eventful" tenure as press secretary was notable for tense press briefings in which frequently attacked journalists, deviated from the facts, and dodged simple questions.
The Toronto Star's Daniel Dale argues that Spicer "was the perfect face for the Donald Trump administration," as he was "laughably dishonest, relentlessly combative, and impossible to not watch." In his brief role "as the president’s chief public propagandist," Dale writes, Spicer also suffered "a long string of Trump-inflicted and self-inflicted humiliations."
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The development prompted some Democratic politicians to lament that Melissa McCarthy would not longer be delighting Saturday Night Live views with her impression of Spicer. Still, Esquire's Charles Pierce argues that there will be no real messaging change from the White House. "The president will continue to be an unqualified, undereducated dolt. The policies, such as they are, will continue to be retrograde and cruel," he writes.
Spicer for his part, tweeted Friday afternoon that it "has been an honor and a privilege to serve" Trump, and said he would continue in his role as press secretary through August.
It's been an honor & a privilege to serve @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & this amazing country. I will continue my service through August
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) July 21, 2017
Speaking at the White House press briefing Friday afternoon, Scaramucci told reporters that Deputy White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders would be the new press secretary. He also called Spicer "a true American patriot" who "has done an amazing job," and said he hopes Spicer "goes on to earn a tremendous amount of money."
