President Donald Trump's communications director tendered his resignation on May 18 — and without his replacement in place, the beleaguered White House staff is without a leader for now.
Mike Dubke is leaving after serving for only three months, according to a report by Axios. This is apparently part of a larger process being implemented by the Trump White House to shake up their press and communications teams, particularly as the Trump administration continues to reel from the Russia scandal that seems to never end.
[salon_video id="14773068"]Axios also reported that Trump met with former campaign officials Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie on Monday about becoming part of a crisis-communications war room that will help the White House fight back against the growing list of scandals. They are also considering replacing Reince Priebus as chief of staff with David Urban, who was a senior adviser during Trump's campaign and helped him win in Pennsylvania.
Trump is also expected to reduce the role of press secretary Sean Spicer, who will do fewer on-camera briefings while Trump himself speaks more on behalf of his own administration (one staffer told Axios that Trump "says things exactly the way he wants them to be said.")
Spicer himself was reported to have been hurt by a recent snub in which he, a devout Catholic, was informed that he would not meet Pope Francis during Trump's visit to the Vatican, according to a Washington Post report. Priebus has also endured indignities, such as being referred to as "Reince-y," and was chided about calling for Trump to drop out of the race after the "Access Hollywood" tape was leaked.
The Post described a general White House climate in which anyone can be targeted by Trump's belittling comments, although the intent behind them has been variously described as either familial or humiliating.
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