White House PR chief Mike Dubke resigns

White House Communications Director Mike Dubke has resigned, he told US media. It comes just three months after his appointment by President Donald Trump.

The resignation, which took place on May 18, was immediately accepted by Trump, Dubke told Politico. 

He added that he offered to stay through the president’s first foreign trip to ensure a smooth transition as he left the position.

Dubke is parting on good terms, according to a senior administration official cited by Axios. 

Senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway has confirmed to Fox News that Dubke has “expressed his desire to leave the White House, and made very clear that he would see through the president's international trip and come to work every day and work hard, even thorough that trip, because there is much to do here, back at the White House…”

Meanwhile, a larger shake-up of Trump's communications team is reportedly scheduled to take place soon.

According to Axios, part of that shake-up is for Trump to travel more, in order to speak to his core supporters directly. An official told the news outlet that this is because “he says things exactly the way he wants them to be said.”

Dubke told Politico that he expects to return to Black Rock Group, his communications and public affairs firm.

“The reasons for my departure are personal, but it has been my great honor to serve President Trump and this administration,” Dubke wrote in an email to friends this morning, as quoted by Politico.

“It has also been my distinct pleasure to work side-by-side, day-by-day with the staff of the communications and press departments. This White House is filled with some of the finest and hardest working men and women in the American Government.”

Dubke also told Politico that he was surprised the news of his planned departure took 12 days to leak out.