US: Trump's communications chief resigns after 10 days

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - President Donald Trump's Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci resigned Monday from his post just 10 days on the job.

Not long after taking the post, Scaramucci made headlines in an expletive-laden interview in which he took aim at senior White House officials, including former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus who was forced out of the executive mansion last Friday, potentially at Scaramucci's behest.

Priebus' successor, Gen. John Kelly, requested Scaramucci's ouster after he clashed with the former communications director over the proper chain of command at the White House, Scaramucci taking the position that he reports directly to the president rather than his chief of staff, according to the New York Times.

Scaramucci emphasized publicly he would report "directly" to the president when Priebus was chief of staff.

Monday was Kelly's first day on the job.

"Mr. Scaramucci felt it was best to give Chief of Staff John Kelly a clean slate and the ability to build his own team," White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee-Sanders said in a statement.

It is not clear if Scaramucci will take a new post within the White House or leave altogether.

His hiring initially led to significant turbulence in the White House with spokesman Sean Spicer tendering his resignation to Trump, citing the former hedge fund manager's alleged unsuitability to lead the White House's public face.

In the wake of Scaramucci's resignation, Spicer, who is supposed to remain at the White House his post until the end of August, emerged from his office to assembled press.

"Is this a surprise party?" he asked, according to the Los Angeles Times.