Mike Dubke: White House communications director quits

Image copyright Black Rock Group Image caption Mike Dubke was something of an outsider in the White House

The White House communications director has resigned only three months after being hired by President Donald Trump.

Mike Dubke, an experienced Republican strategist, was hired in March to revamp the White House media strategy.

As part of the shake-up, White House press secretary Sean Spicer will reportedly hold on to his position, but there will be fewer media briefings.

The reshuffle follows reports of disarray in the White House communications team.

Mr Dubke tendered his resignation on 18 May and is leaving on good terms, according to Axios News, a politics website which first reported his exit.

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Rumours have been swirling that White House press secretary Sean Spicer could be replaced

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said Mr Dubke had agreed to stay on until Mr Trump returned from his overseas trip to the Middle East and Europe on Saturday.

"He has expressed his desire to leave the White House and made very clear that he would see through the president's international trip," she told Fox News.

According to news website Politico, Mr Dubke, 47, provided few details on his departure in an email to friends.

"The reasons for my departure are personal," he wrote, "but it has been my great honor to serve President Trump and this administration.

"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."

Analysis - BBC North America Reporter Anthony Zurcher

Mike Dubke was an outsider hired to bring focus and discipline to the Trump White House communications operation. After just three months on the job, he's back on the outside again.

In the vast scheme of things, whether Dubke willingly quit or was forced to resign isn't all that important. Despite his title, it's difficult to gauge how much influence he ever had with the president.

What's worth noting is that the first change in what could be a larger White House shake-up has come in the communications department, with rumours of further reorganisation imminent.

This lends credence to earlier reports that the president views his administration's ongoing difficulties as a messaging problem, and not one of policies or management.

If that's the case, it appears the new message will be delivered with bare knuckles.

Old campaign hands, like the pugnacious Corey Lewandowski, are being considered for White House jobs and the president could be hitting the road for more unscripted big-venue rallies with his supporters.

It would mark a return to the campaign tactics that won Mr Trump the presidency - where every stumble or controversy was countered aggressively, political decorum and tradition be damned.

President Trump is reported to have been frustrated with White House messaging amid congressional and FBI investigations into whether his campaign officials colluded with an alleged Kremlin plot to help him win the presidency.

He recently raised the idea of scrapping the daily news briefing altogether and holding one himself every fortnight.

According to Axios, Mr Trump plans to follow through on that plan by taking more questions directly from the media.

Press Secretary Sean Spicer - who is expected back at the media podium on Tuesday - will reportedly hold fewer on-camera briefings.

White House rallies to Kushner's defence

Image copyright Reuters Image caption Corey Lewandowski, former campaign manager for Mr Trump, was spotted leaving the White House on Monday

Mr Dubke, who previously worked as senior partner for Republican political advertising company Crossroads Media, was not part of the Trump campaign and was not seen as a loyalist.

The White House has not named a successor for Mr Dubke.

However, Corey Lewandowski, former campaign manager for Mr Trump, was spotted leaving the White House on Monday.

Image copyright Twitter Image caption President Trump's tweet on Tuesday morning

Mr Lewandowski was forced out in June last year amid reports of a power struggle with Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law and a senior White House adviser.

However, Mr Kushner is now reportedly under scrutiny as part of the FBI's investigation into alleged Moscow influence that is engulfing Mr Trump's fledgling presidency.

According to reports, the combative Mr Lewandowski could rejoin the administration soon to lead a White House "war room" to counter the narrative that Mr Trump is too close to Russia.

The fight-back strategy could include hiring more lawyers to handle the allegations, according to reports.