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Sean Spicer’s abrupt departure rattles a White House on edge

WASHINGTON — Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, resigned on Friday (July 21), telling President Trump he vehemently disagreed with the appointment of the New York financier Anthony Scaramucci as communications director.

Sean Spicer has quit his job. Photo: The New York Times

Sean Spicer has quit his job. Photo: The New York Times

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WASHINGTON — Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, resigned on Friday (July 21), telling United States President Donald Trump he vehemently disagreed with the appointment of the New York financier Anthony Scaramucci as communications director.

Mr Trump offered Mr Scaramucci the job at 10am. The president requested that Mr Spicer stay on, but Mr Spicer told Mr Trump that he believed the appointment was a major mistake, according to person with direct knowledge of the exchange.

Deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has taken over Mr Spicer's position.

Currently at the Export-Import Bank, Mr Scaramucci is expected to start his new job in August, said a White House official. Initially, the official said there were no other changes expected in a communications operation that included Mr Spicer and Ms Sanders.

The appointment comes as the White House deals with questions around a special counsel probe and several congressional investigations into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 US presidential election and potential collusion with Mr Trump's campaign.

The communications position has been vacant since Mr Michael Dubke resigned in May as communications director. Mr Spicer has been serving a dual role as press secretary and communications director since Mr Dubke left.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Mr Scaramucci was interviewed by Mr Trump on Friday morning and the job had been offered and accepted.

(President Trump accepts Spicer's resignation. Screengrab: White House)

Mr Scaramucci, a Republican fundraiser and founder of Skybridge Capital, was earlier offered the post of US ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris.

Mr Spicer's departure reflected turmoil within Mr Trump's legal and communication teams amid a widening investigation into possible ties between Mr Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, a problem undermining the White House's policy agenda.

Parodied memorably on the Saturday Night Live sketch comedy show for his combative encounters with the White House press corps, Mr Spicer became one of the Mr Trump administration's most recognised figures after taking the job in December 2016.

He was sometimes targeted by critics for what they said were false or misleading statements. In recent weeks, Mr Spicer has less frequently taken the lectern in the White House press room. AGENCIES

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