Sean Spicer abruptly resigns as White House press secretary
Sean Spicer has made the shock decision to step down from his position as White House press secretary after a rocky six-months in the job.
It’s understood he quit in protest over the hiring of a new White House communications director, New York financier Anthony Scaramucci, believing he is not qualified enough for the role.
Following the shock announcement on Friday, he said President Donald Trump’s White House “could benefit from a clean slate”.
He confirmed on Twitter he will be continuing his service 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
Spicer’s stint in the job hasn’t been easy, with his press briefings often making headlines of their own.
On Trump’s first day in office, he lashed out at journalists over coverage of the crowd size at the inauguration and stormed out of the briefing room without answering questions.
His often fiery demeanour also lead to an unforgettable impersonation by Melissa McCarthy on NBC’s Saturday Night Live.