03 June, 2017
A top White House communications staffer has resigned as President Donald Trump considers a major staff overhaul amid intensifying inquiries into his campaign's dealings with Russian Federation.
Dubke, 47, who has worked closely with White House press secretary Sean Spicer, served as a behind-the-scenes player helping manage communications strategy and responses to crises such as the firing of James Comey as Federal Bureau of Investigation director, as well as rollout plans for policy and other initiatives.
Dubke is the founder of Crossroads Media, which brands itself "the premier Republican media services firm" on its website.
Fresh off Trump's first official trip overseas, his administration is looking for ways to respond more aggressively to allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and revelations of possible ties between Trump's campaign and Moscow.
We don't yet have the details surrounding why Dubke made a decision to quit, but as a general rule, one of the surest signs of a White House in crisis is when prominent aides start fleeing.
Trump also will take more questions directly from the media, Axios reported.
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.
In an email to friends and associates on Tuesday morning, Dubke wrote: "It has been my great honor to serve President Trump and this administration".
"Trump's first foreign trip was a huge success", tweeted White House spokesman Michael Short.
"This White House is filled with some of the finest and hardest working men and women in the American Government".
61 percent of those polled say he does more to hurt himself whenever he speaks, compared to 33 percent who say he does more to help himself.
Indeed, Dubke offered his resignation before the president's departure, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway told The Associated Press, but offered to stay on during the trip.
The White House was not the only part of the administration touting the trip, as the State Department briefing room was suddenly put to use for the first time in several weeks - in order to talk about the high points of Mr. Trump's visit to Saudi Arabia and Israel.
The latest revelations to emerge last week involved Trump's son-in-law and top aide, Jared Kushner.
Mr Lewandowski was forced out in June past year amid reports of a power struggle with Jared Kushner, Mr Trump's son-in-law and a senior White House adviser. The person wasn't authorized to publicly discuss private policy deliberations and insisted on anonymity. "Very bad for U.S. This will change".
