WASHINGTON – Sean Spicer resigned as White House press secretary Friday in protest at a major shakeup of Donald Trump’s embattled administration, an official told AFP.

Spicer – the administration’s most recognisable face after the president – resigned after just six months in office, having been increasingly sidelined in recent weeks.

Spicer reached breaking point on Friday, the White House official said, when Trump appointed Anthony Scaramucci to be the new communications director, a bid to reset the scandal-wracked administration.

A source familiar with the deliberations told AFP Trump had tapped the New York financier and longtime backer over the objections of White House chief of staff and Spicer ally Reince Priebus.

The post has been empty since the previous communications director Mike Dubke resigned in May. Spicer had privately said he would like to do the job and play more of an off-camera role.

He has not briefed the press on camera for a month, deferring to his deputy Sarah Sanders.

The last six months have seen the Trump administration lurch from one crisis to the next, with Trump frequently expressing displeasure with the media coverage he receives.

AFP