White House communications director resigns amid tensions

A top White House staffer has resigned as US President Donald Trump considers a major staff overhaul.

The departure of Michael Dubke, Mr Trump’s communications director, comes as aides say the president has grown increasingly frustrated by allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and revelations of possible ties between his campaign and Moscow.

Mr Trump tweeted yesterday: “Russian officials must be laughing at the US & how a lame excuse for why the Dems lost the election has taken over the Fake News.”

A Republican consultant, Mr Dubke joined the White House team in February after campaign aide Jason Miller – Mr Trump’s original choice for communications director – withdrew from the team.

He is the latest White House staffer to leave as scrutiny intensifies over contacts Trump staffers may have had with Russian government officials during the campaign and transition period.

White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway said yesterday that Mr Dubke resigned before Mr Trump left for his international trip earlier this month, suggesting that his departure is not linked to any pending shake-ups.

But his departure raises questions about whether previous Trump loyalists are headed to the White House. Mr Trump has entertained formally bringing back his former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, and former deputy campaign manager, David Bossie.

Mr Bossie told Fox News that the Trump administration has reached out to him but has not offered him a job yet.