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Donald Trump's communication's director is leaving the job after just three months, as the US President considers a wider staff shake-up amid growing political fallout over probes into Russia and his election campaign.
Key points:
- Mike Dubke is believed to be leaving on good terms
- His departure comes amid plans for a larger White House shake-up
- The changes may include more political professionals, and fewer on-camera briefings
Mike Dubke confirmed earlier reports he had resigned, but gave no reason for leaving.
"It has been my great honour to serve President Trump and this administration," he said in a statement.
Mr Trump, who returned to Washington on Saturday after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Europe, has been expected to make staff changes to tackle the distracting firestorm over investigations into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election and communication between Russia and Mr Trump's campaign.
He plans to bring in new aides to the White House, adding experienced political professionals including a former campaign manager, according to administration officials and people close to Mr Trump.
The new aides will form part of a new communications "war room" reportedly being worked on by White House chief of staff Reince Priebus and adviser Steve Bannon.
The Republican President has also repeatedly expressed frustration with internal leaks coming from the White House.
Mr Dubke resigned on good terms on May 18, but he has not set a last day on the job, according to Axios News, which first reported his departure.
The PR chief told Politico he expected to go back to Black Rock Group, his communications and public affairs firm.
Mr Dubke, who was brought into the White House in March as head of the office that runs press and other public relations issues, wanted to stay on through Mr Trump's first foreign trip to ensure a smooth transition, senior White House adviser Kellyanne Conway told Fox News.
Fewer briefings, but more questions possible
Other potential staff changes could be in the works, according to Axios, including fewer on-camera news briefings by Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary.
Mr Trump will also take more questions directly from the media, Axios reported.
Ms Conway said the White House will continue to bring in Cabinet secretaries and other top officials to handle news briefings on topics in their patch.
She also dismissed persistent speculation that Mr Spicer, who has been pilloried on TV comedy shows since Mr Trump took office on January 20, was on his way out.
She said he would be back at the podium to brief reporters on Tuesday (local time).
Controversy over the Russia issue deepened after Mr Trump fired FBI director James Comey earlier this month, leading to allegations by critics that the President sought to hamper the agency's probe into the matter.
Moscow has denied US intelligence agencies' conclusion that it meddled in the campaign to try to tilt the election in Mr Trump's favour.
The President has denied any collusion, repeatedly denouncing the probes as an effort by Democrats to explain Hillary Clinton's upset defeat in the White House race.
Reuters
Topics: world-politics, donald-trump, media, united-states
First posted