An internal power struggle between two senior administration officials who are competing for the role of White House communications director has led aides involved in the decision-making process to consider a third candidate, National Security Council spokesman Michael Anton, sources told the Washington Examiner.
The vacancy created by Hope Hicks, who officially left the West Wing on Thursday after resigning last month, almost immediately led to what has been described as a “knife fight” between two of her potential replacements: director of strategic communications Mercedes Schlapp and Treasury spokesman Tony Sayegh.
Both their names emerged early on in stories about the search for a new communications chief. Schlapp, who worked in the George W. Bush administration, was seen as a favorite of White House chief of staff John Kelly, while Hicks herself had floated Sayegh. Bill Shine, a former Fox News co-president, was briefly mentioned, but reportedly withdrew himself from consideration.
A former White House aide said the ongoing competition between Schlapp and Sayegh has left several administration officials frustrated. Each has been accused of jockeying for the position, while Schlapp and her husband have come under fire for allegedly planting unflattering stories about Sayegh in the media.
“They both kind of lit themselves on fire. At this point, I don’t think either of them is going to get [the job],” said the former White House aide.
In the midst of frustrations over the battle between Schlapp and Sayegh, White House officials have begun looking more seriously at Anton, a former speechwriter for President George W. Bush whom the Washington Examiner first reported was in the running earlier this month.
A senior White House official said Anton is “still being discussed,” while another administration official said the NSC spokesman “would be a good fit” for communications director. “He’s great on TV and tends to fly under the radar,” the administration official said, adding that the latter quality is particularly appealing “because we’re all so tired of the constant drama.” Anton declined to comment for this story.
Though some staffers have encouraged him to audition for the top communications role, a senior White House official said Anton has not been approached by Trump or his chief of staff regarding the position. The same official suggested Anton would be a peculiar choice considering he is not as close to the president as others inside the West Wing and would in no way be able to replicate the relationship Trump shared with Hicks.
“It’s going to be impossible to replace her,” the official said. “Hope had a connection and insight I think very few of us have. The president has kind of lost his right hand.”
For that reason, Trump has reportedly entertained the idea of leaving the communications director slot open. Doing so would allow him to take full control of messaging, an area in which he has long believed his judgment could serve the White House well.
Should the president name a successor to Hicks, the person will undoubtedly take on one of the most challenging roles inside the West Wing. Recent developments in the special counsel investigation have placed added pressure on the White House press shop to extinguish concerns among the president’s allies and supporters, while a spate of major personnel changes has completely eroded morale.
Whoever succeeds Hicks will be the fifth person to serve as communications director since Trump took office, a fact that could make the position even less attractive to potential candidates. Hicks’ predecessor Anthony Scaramucci was infamously fired after 10 days on the job, while the two other men who held the position — Sean Spicer and Michael Dubke — both resigned.
