White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has resigned over the hiring of a new top communications aide, sources tell the Associated Press.
The move came as Trump booster and Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci was expected to be tapped for White House communications director.
Speculation about Spicer’s status with the White House has run rampant for months, but one source described the appointment of Scaramucci was the deciding factor.
Spicer originally was supposed to lead a newly restructured communications operation. Under that structure, the communications director would report to him — which may have caused a conflict with Scaramucci, who met with Trump on Friday.
Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders in recent weeks has taken the lead on many daily press briefings, which are mostly held off camera and no longer televised live.