Sean Spicer says that his six months serving in the White House was an honour and a privilege
Mr Spicer resigned suddenly from his top White House post this week, citing concern with Donald Trump's decision to hire Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director.
Mr Spicer's resignation has been rumoured about for months. After a tumultuous start to the year, he became a national target of ridicule, and was mocked by Saturday Night Live with a recurring character portraying him.
The President reportedly asked Mr Spicer to stay on as press secretary after he hired Mr Scaramucci, but Mr Spicer held fast that the appointment was a major mistake.
Mr Scaramucci founded the global investment firm SkyBrdige Capital, and is a Fox News contributor. He also has good relationships with members of the press, including at several outlets that the President has had a particularly tumultuous relationship.
Mr Spicer is a former spokesman for the Republican National Committee, and was seen as an important ally for White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, the former chairman of the Republican Party who refused to try and discredit Mr Trump during the 2016 campaign in spite of frequent calls for him to do so. Mr Spicer's resignation is seen as a major blow to Mr Priebus, as they both worked at the same, more traditionally Republican organisation together.
Mr Scaramucci's appointment follows months after the resignation of Mike Dubke, who was the original communications director in the White House. Mr Trump has since then reportedly been increasingly frustrated with Mr Priebus for taking a long time to fill the position. Mr Priebus has also objected to Mr Scaramucci's appointment, saying that he lacked the organisational and political experience for the gig. Mr Trump apparently disagrees, and has given him a position that has far reaching powers.
