Vice President Mike Pence said Friday that he considers outgoing White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer a friend, and that he respects his decision to "step aside" after President Donald Trump hired Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director.
"Sean Spicer has been a friend of mine for many years," Spence told ABC News Kansas City affiliate KMBC. in an interview Friday. "He is a great guy. He served his country in uniform, and served this administration in our first six months."
Spicer resigned on Friday after Trump named the investment fund founder to the top spot in the communications department.
Later, Spicer, a former spokesman for the Republican National Committee, told Fox News that he decided to leave in order to give the new team a "clean slate."
Scaramucci announced Friday that Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been promoted to replace Spicer as press secretary. Spicer tweeted Friday morning that he plans to remain at the White House until August.
ABC asked Pence if Spicer's resignation "sounds like it's a resignation under protest," a question he didn't deny while saying he respects the decision.
"I just wish him every continued success, and we’re just going to continue at this White House and to continue to focus on the agenda that carried President Trump to victory last fall," Pence said.
Spicer has denied reports that he criticized Scaramucci's hiring, and said Trump wanted him to remain as press secretary, but he refused to stay.
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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