Sean Spicer Resigns as White House Press Secretary
Mr. Scaramucci described his relationship with Mr. Priebus as a brotherly one where they “rough each other up.” He called Mr. Priebus a “good friend.”
Mr. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has grown critical of both Mr. Spicer
and Mr. Priebus, whom he regards as party establishment figures who operate out of self-interest.
But Mr. Spicer told Mr. Trump that he believed the appointment of Mr. Scaramucci was a major mistake
and said he was resigning, according to a person with direct knowledge of the exchange.
WASHINGTON — Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, resigned on Friday after denouncing chaos in the West Wing
and telling President Trump he vehemently disagreed with the appointment of the New York financier Anthony Scaramucci as communications director.
After offering Mr. Scaramucci the communications job Friday morning, Mr. Trump asked Mr. Spicer to stay on as press secretary.
The resignation is a serious blow to the embattled White House chief of staff, Reince Priebus, the former Republican Party chairman
who brought Mr. Spicer into the West Wing despite skepticism from Mr. Trump, who initially questioned his loyalty.
Mr. Scaramucci was to meet with Mr. Priebus on Friday, according to a West Wing official —
and applause could be heard in the second-floor communications hallway when Mr. Scaramucci was introduced.
During the transition, Mr. Trump had planned to appoint Mr. Scaramucci, a 52-year-old Harvard Law graduate from Long Island, as director of his office of public liaison,
but the offer was pulled at the request of Mr. Priebus over concerns about Mr. Scaramucci’s overseas investments.