White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Resigns

Photo: Cheriss May/NurPhoto/Getty Images.

On Friday, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer resigned. The New York Times reports he told President Trump he didn't agree with his pick for a new communications director, Anthony Scaramucci. According to The Times, the president asked Spicer to remain in the position, but Spicer stepped down any way.

President Trump announced earlier Friday morning that he had chosen Scaramucci, a Wall Street financier, to lead the White House communications team. Axios reports Chief of Staff Reince Priebus was also surprised by the pick.

There's been speculation for weeks that Spicer was looking for a replacement for himself, so his resignation wasn't a total shock. However, he was reportedly looking to move to a different White House position, so abruptly resigning was a bigger move than expected.

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Spicer had largely stepped back from holding White House press briefings, frequently handing them over to the White House deputy press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. And both Spicer and Sanders have held off-camera briefings recently, much to the frustration of White House reporters.

CNN White House reporter Jim Acosta told The Hill after a June off-camera briefing, "The White House press secretary is getting to a point where he’s just kind of useless."

Spicer tweeted a few hours after the news of his departure broke, writing that it was an honor to serve the president and that he will stay in his position through August.

It's been an honor & a privilege to serve @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & this amazing country. I will continue my service through August
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) July 21, 2017

The people of Twitter had a field day with the news of his resignation, speculating about what Spicer would do next and making fun of his stint as press secretary.

BREAKING NEWS: Sean #Spicer resigns from White House to dedicate himself full time to selling Spicey Hiding Bushes™.
— This is (@RauliuxRaulix) July 21, 2017

Sean Spicer resigns from his position as Press Secretary today.

He will now be working on his new book, "View From the Bushes" pic.twitter.com/5bATEWTlj5
— Burmba News (@BurmbaNews) July 21, 2017

Can't wait to see Sean Spicer waltz on Dancing With the Stars.
— Zach Braff (@zachbraff) July 21, 2017

Some were also sad at the prospect of losing Melissa McCarthy's legendary Saturday Night Live impersonations of Spicer.

I'm just really hoping that Sean Spicer resigning doesn't mean we have to also say goodbye to @melissamccarthy pic.twitter.com/kAwho6HLvc
— Brad Streicher Live5 (@bradrstreicher) July 21, 2017

The true loss today is @melissamccarthy's Sean Spicer pic.twitter.com/qhA0gYjmYY
— Rebecca (@eatingb00ks) July 21, 2017

not enough cinnamon gum in the world
— Scaachi (@Scaachi) July 21, 2017

But, others came to Spicer's defense... kind of.

In Spicer's defense, he did make it through the first 25 years of the Trump administration.
— Nick Baumann (@NickBaumann) July 21, 2017

Sean Spicer leaving the White House like pic.twitter.com/7IYA6MPRTN
— shauna (@goldengateblond) July 21, 2017

It's unclear who will take Spicer's place, but Huckabee will likely fill the role of acting press secretary in the meantime. One thing is clear, though: The days of mocking Spicer's briefing gaffes are over.

This story was originally published at 12:10 p.m.

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