With Spicer out, Scaramucci takes over White House communications

WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Sean Spicer resigned Friday, after the appointment of wealthy financier Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director.

Spicer’s abrupt and angry departure — which caught even senior West Wing staffers by surprise — reflects the latest upheaval in a White House that has been consumed by chaos and staff infighting since almost the day President Trump took office.

[...] the shakeup comes amid intensifying tumult at the White House as Trump moves to respond to the widening special counsel probe into his campaign’s possible collusion with the Russian government and searches for ways to revive the administration’s stalled legislative agenda.

Trump officially offered the position to Scaramucci, whom he has become closer to in recent weeks, at a Friday morning meeting with senior staff in the Oval Office.

Priebus called a private meeting of the White House communications staff and made clear that Spicer, who is expected to help Scaramucci transition into the role, is leaving to give the new communications director “a clean slate,” according to someone briefed on the meeting.