Bill Shine: White House communications director resigns to work on Trump re-election campaign

The former Fox News executive set to be a senior adviser to the re-election campaign

White House Communications Director Bill Shine looks on as United States President Donald J Trump hosts a naturalization ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC on Saturday, 19 January, 2019. ((Photo by Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images))

White House communications director Bill Shine has resigned.

The former Fox News executive will be a senior adviser to the re-election campaign.

Shine had joined the Trump administration eight months ago, in July 2018.

He was previously a co-president at Fox News, along with Jack Abernathy.

Shine left that position in May 2017 last year, after being accused of allegedly helping to cover up the behaviour of Roger Ailes, the network’s former chairman, who was himself accused of sexual harassment by multiple women. Shine has denied any wrongdoing.

White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says that President Trump accepted Mr Shine’s resignation on Thursday evening. The resignation is effective from Friday.

Mr Trump said in a statement released by the White House that Mr Shine “has done an outstanding job working for me and the administration”.

President Trump says he looks forward to working with Mr Shine on the campaign.

Shine’s appointment last year brought attention to tweets sent out by his spouse, Darla Shine, a former TV producer who has been an outspoken supporter of the anti-vaccination movement on social media.

After the news of Shine’s resignation broke, some commented on the relative brevity of his White House tenure.

Journalist Adam Kelsey compared the duration of Shine’s position to that of former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci, who lasted 10 days.

“Bill Shine’s tenure as White House communications director lasted 24.6 Scaramuccis, for anyone who doesn’t have a calculator handy,” Kelsey tweeted.

Additional reporting from agencies.