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Sean Spicer resigns as Trump's White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer resigns as Trump's White House Press Secretary
(35 minutes later)
Sean Spicer has resigned as Donald Trump's Press Secretary after the appointment of Anthony Scaramucci as director of communications. Donald Trump's long-anticipated shake-up of his communications staff has finally taken place - as Sean Spicer resigned as press secretary and Anthony Scaramucci was appointed director of communications.
"It's been an honor & a privilege to serve @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & this amazing country," Mr Spicer tweeted, adding that he would remain in his position until August.  After months of speculation that the 45-year-old was poised to leave the White House, it was announced that Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had been promoted to fill his position.  
The President had asked Mr Spicer to stay on, according to The New York Times, but Mr Spicer told the President that the appointment of Mr Scaramucci was a major mistake.  "It's been an honour & a privilege to serve @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & this amazing country," Mr Spicer tweeted, adding that he would remain in his position until August. 
The President had asked Mr Spicer to stay on, according to The New York Times, but Mr Spicer told Mr Trump that the appointment of Mr Scaramucci was a big mistake. 
Mr Scaramucci, a Wall Street financier and longtime supporter of Mr Trump, will replace Mike Dubke, who resigned from the job in May amid fallout from primarily Russia-related scandals.Mr Scaramucci, a Wall Street financier and longtime supporter of Mr Trump, will replace Mike Dubke, who resigned from the job in May amid fallout from primarily Russia-related scandals.
White House chief of staff Reince Priebus – a former Republican Party chairman who had brought Mr Spicer into the White House – also reportedly disapproves of Mr Trump's pick for communications director. White House chief of staff Reince Priebus – a former Republican Party chairman who had brought Mr Spicer into the White House – also reportedly disapproves of Mr Trump's pick for communications director. 
During the transition, Mr Trump had intended to appoint Mr Scaramucci as director of his office of public liaison, but the offer was pulled at the request of Mr Priebus over concerns about the financier's overseas investments, The Times reported.  During the transition, Mr Trump had intended to appoint Mr Scaramucci as director of his office of public liaison, but the offer was pulled at the request of Mr Priebus over concerns about the financier's overseas investments. 
It is likely that Mr Trump selected Mr Scaramucci because of his demonstrated loyalty: Mr Scaramucci, who founded the global investment firm SkyBridge Capital and is a Fox News Channel contributor, has on multiple occasions spiritedly defended the President on cable television.  It is likely that Mr Trump selected Mr Scaramucci because of his demonstrated loyalty: Mr Scaramucci, who founded the global investment firm SkyBridge Capital and is a Fox News Channel contributor, has on multiple occasions spiritedly defended the President on cable television. Mr Trump has constantly felt that his communications staff were not doing enough to defend him.
Mr Scaramucci will be joining the administration when friction between the White House and the press is at a high. Mr Trump has criticised several news organisations, and communications staff has received backlash for holding fewer on-camera briefings. Mr Spicer has said the change is meant to draw more attention to the President's remarks, but some reporters have asserted that the White House "should have the backbone" to answer questions during on-camera proceedings. 
Mr Spicer's resignation comes after Mr Trump also reshuffled his personal legal team, which is building the President's defence against allegations of collusion with the Russian government around the 2016 election. Mr Spicer's resignation comes after Mr Trump also reshuffled his personal legal team, which is building the President's defence against allegations of collusion with the Russian government around the 2016 election. 
Jonathan Karl, the chief White House correspondent for ABC News, tweeted that when he went to ask Mr Spicer a question about Mr Scaramucci, the Press Secretary "slammed the door" in his face.Jonathan Karl, the chief White House correspondent for ABC News, tweeted that when he went to ask Mr Spicer a question about Mr Scaramucci, the Press Secretary "slammed the door" in his face.
Minutes later, it was reported that Mr Spicer had resigned.Minutes later, it was reported that Mr Spicer had resigned.
Throughout his six-month tenure as the White House Press Secretary, Mr Spicer became known for his combative style with the press that inspired a caricature of him on "Saturday Night Live". Throughout his six-month tenure as the White House Press Secretary, Mr Spicer became known for his combative style with the press that inspired a caricature of him on "Saturday Night Live". 
A former Republican National Committee spokesman and strategist, Mr Spicer was on the frontlines defending Mr Trump's directives and decisions, from the controversial travel ban to the President's abrupt firing of James Comey as FBI Director in May.  A former Republican National Committee spokesman and strategist, Mr Spicer was on the frontline defending Mr Trump's directives and decisions, from the controversial travel ban to the President's abrupt firing of James Comey as FBI Director in May. 
Mr Scaramucci and Mr Spicer's replacement will be joining the administration when friction between the White House and the press is at a high. Mr Trump has criticised several news organisations, and communications staff has received backlash for holding fewer on-camera briefings. Mr Spicer has said the change is meant to draw more attention to the President's remarks, but some reporters have asserted that the White House “should have the backbone” to answer questions during on-camera proceedings.  Mr Trump's social media use and off-the-cuff communication style are also likely to remain a thorn in the side of his staff. The President's tweets and statements he makes during interviews often contradict messages from his own White House – issues that which Mr Spicer and Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders have had to deal with during press briefings.