White House spokesman Sean Spicer holds a press briefing at the White House in Washington, on July 17, 2017.

:: The White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has resigned over hiring of new communications aide, according to The Associated Press sources.

Spicer is resigning his position, according to two people with knowledge of the decision.

One of those people said Spicer is quitting because of objections over the appointment of a new White House communications director, New York financier Anthony Scaramucci.

The people with knowledge of the decision insisted on anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the personnel matter publicly.

News of Spicer’s abrupt resignation came as Trump faced mounting pressure from a special investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 US presidential elections.

New communications director

US President Donald Trump on Friday tapped Anthony Scaramucci to be his new communications director, part of an effort to reset his embattled White House.

Although no final announcement has been made, a source familiar with deliberations told AFP Trump had settled on the decision.

Scaramucci was seen in the West Wing of the White House on Friday, preparing to address communications staff.

The high-powered post has been empty since the previous communications director Mike Dubke resigned in May.