Trump's White House Communications Director Michael Dubke Resigns

By Jordan Fabian, The Hill

30 May 17

 

ike Dubke has resigned as White House communications director, he confirmed to The Hill early Tuesday, in what could be the beginning of a major staff overhaul amid the growing Russia controversy.

Dubke had only been on the job for three months before tendering his resignation on May 18. He offered to remain in his post to help manage communications during President Trump’s overseas trip, and Trump accepted.

Dubke’s last day has not yet been determined. His resignation was first reported by Axios’s Mike Allen.

The veteran Republican operative was hired in February to help restructure a White House communications shop that struggled to deal with a number of controversies that that consumed Trump's presidency.

Previously, White House press secretary Sean Spicer had also filled the role of communications director but the workload became too heavy for him.

Both men have been the target of criticism from Trump allies for how they handled the fallout from his decision to fire FBI Director James Comey and the ensuing escalation of the investigation into any Russian meddling in the presidential election.

"He had enough watching potential successors paraded in front of him before he got the clue and punched out," said a source close to the White House.

Dubke entered the White House with few close connections to Trump or his senior staff and his quick exit shows how difficult it’s been for outsiders to gain traction inside the West Wing.

His exit comes amid talk that Trump might bring back familiar faces from the 2016 campaign to stop the bleeding from the Russia probe.

The president has reportedly been considering tapping combative former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski and ex-deputy campaign manager David Bossie to help lead a so-called "war room" to respond to the special counsel's investigation into any ties between his associates, from either outside or inside the White House, and Russia.