White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who abruptly resigned after six months on the job, stands to do very well in the private sector.
Friends and communications executives told Secrets that Spicer is likely to immediately be offered contributor contracts with cable news that could add up to “several hundred thousand dollars.”
He is also expected to be sought out by companies who need a strong defensive communicator.
“He’ll be fine,” said one ally of the former Republican National Committee spokesman who has years of experience in administration and congressional communications.
“I just wish he would have stayed through the first year,” added the associate.
And, added another Trump insider, there’s a chance might be asked to stay on by President Trump. “I don’t think this is over. Trump loves the guy and didn’t see him resigning.”
Insiders described the White House as blindsided by Spicer’s move after the president decided to give the open communications job to Anthony Scaramucci. Spicer has been searching for an experienced communicator to handle that job, but Trump, pushed by daughter Ivanka, gave it to the Wall Street financier and TV defender of the president.
He is not expected to play the traditional communicators role, and Spicer thought that was a mistake. Others said that the White House already has enough TV faces.
“There was simply no understanding by the president that the communications director title comes with lots of responsibilities, not just going on television. He was expecting Spicer to serve as press secretary and quasi communications director while Scaramucci would play only a ceremonial role,” said an outside White House advisor.
Spicer was working to reorganize the administration’s communication system and eventually get a deputy chief of staff title putting him over press and communications.
Despite his decision to resign, insiders said that Trump may still try to keep Spicer on as the administration’s overall communication’s strategist.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
