Michael Dubke

Michael D. Dubke (born April 18, 1970) is an American entrepreneur and political aide who was the White House Communications Director for U.S. President Donald Trump[1] until his resignation effective June 2, 2017.[2][3]

Mike Dubke
White House Communications Director
In office
March 6, 2017 – June 2, 2017
PresidentDonald Trump
Preceded bySean Spicer (acting)
Succeeded bySean Spicer (acting)
Personal details
Born (1970-04-18) April 18, 1970
Hamburg, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseShannon Mullins
Children2
EducationHamilton College, New York (BA)

Dubke worked in political affairs since the 1980s. He founded Crossroads Media, which serves as the media services arm of American Crossroads, and co-founded the Black Rock Group, a public relations firm.[4]

Early life

Dubke is a native of Hamburg, New York and attended Hamburg High School.[5] He is a graduate of Hamilton College.[6]

Career

According to Dubke, he has been involved in political affairs since 1988.[6] Several of the organizations that he has worked for operate out of the same office building at 66 Canal Center Plaza, Alexandria, Virginia. Questions about election ethics have been raised based on the organizations' various connections to political campaigns.[7][8][9][10][11][12]

Ripon Society

Dubke held the position of executive director of both the Ripon Society, a national organization of moderate Republicans, and the Ripon Educational Fund.[6][13][14] Dubke stated he and the Ripon Society publicly endorsed Senator Bob Dole for president during the 1996 election. In 1996, Dole stated in an interview with Peter Jennings that he would vote against the Human Life Amendment, then reversed course and affirmed his anti-abortion stance. Dubke, on behalf of the Ripon Society, urged Bob Dole's campaign to give way to a more tolerant position on abortion and to incorporate it into the Republican Party platform.[15]

Americans for Job Security

Michael Dubke, David Carney, and several business groups helped start Americans for Job Security in 1997.[6] Dubke was the first executive director and then president of Americans for Job Security until April 2008.[16]

Crossroads Media

In 2001, Dubke founded the Republican media services firm Crossroads Media.[17] It was brought to a level of national prominence during the 2008 presidential campaign.[18] The company provides services for American Crossroads, a super PAC founded by Karl Rove.[19] While at Crossroads Media, Dubke worked on the campaign of New York congressman Chris Collins.[5]

Black Rock Group

Dubke co-founded the Black Rock Group with political operative Carl Forti.[5] Dubke also served as a partner at the firm, which served overall strategists and consultants for Senator Lisa Murkowski's Alaska re-election effort in 2016.[7] Dubke also handled media for Republican Dan Sullivan's successful 2014 campaign against Mark Begich, also in Alaska.[5]

White House Communications Director

President Donald Trump offered Dubke the role of White House Director of Communications.[18] He began on 6 March 2017.[20] The White House announced he had submitted his resignation on May 30, 2017, approximately three months later. The White House did not announce his exact date of departure or who would be replacing him.[21][3] Dubke was originally to remain as communications director to assist in selecting his successor, according to one-time White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus,[22] however, his last day was June 2. Sean Spicer resumed the post as acting Director.[23]

Personal life

Dubke and his wife, Shannon, live in Alexandria, Virginia, with their two children.[6][24]

References
  1. "President Donald J. Trump Announces White House Staff Appointments". whitehouse.gov. March 6, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017 – via National Archives.
  2. "Mysterious disappearance of Donald Trump's mouthpiece Sean Spicer". The New Zealand Herald. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  3. Rucker, Philip (May 30, 2017). "Dubke resigns as White House communications director". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  4. Baker, Peter; Haberman, Maggie (May 30, 2017). "As Trump Weighs Shake-Up, He Faces Recruiting Challenge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  5. Zremski, Jerry; McCarthy, Robert J. (February 17, 2017). "Hamburg native in line to be White House communications director". The Buffalo News.
  6. "Leadership - Michael Dubke". Crossroads Media, LLC. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  7. Herz, Nathaniel (March 4, 2015). "Murkowski plans to hire Sullivan consultant for 2016 campaign". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  8. Confessore, Nicholas (July 21, 2012). "Steering the Right's Vast Money Machine". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  9. "66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 555". The New York Times. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  10. Mcintire, Mike (September 23, 2010). "Under a Tax-Exempt Cloak, Dollars Flow to Political Causes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  11. Mcintire, Mike; Luo, Michael (February 25, 2012). "Loose Border of 'Super PAC' and Romney Campaign". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  12. "Americans for Job Security – how a shadow group hustles for funds". Center for Public Integrity. October 26, 2010. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  13. Holmes, Steven A. (August 5, 1996). "Elbowed Aside in '92, Moderates Expect to Feel Welcome at This G.O.P. Convention". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  14. Noble, Kenneth B. (March 10, 1996). "Welfare Revamp, Halted in Capital, Proceeds Anyway". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  15. "Senator Dole's Abortion Position". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  16. Hulse, Carl (July 14, 2002). "Ads Push Estate Tax As Issue in Campaigns". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  17. "Who We Are - CrossRoads Media, LLC (CRM)". Crossroadsmedia.tv. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
  18. Acosta, Jim; McKirdy, Euan (February 17, 2017). "Officials: Mike Dubke to be named as WH comms director". CNN. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  19. Bucher, Chris (February 17, 2017). "Mike Dubke: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com.
  20. "President Donald J. Trump Announces White House Staff Appointments", whitehouse.gov, March 06, 2017.
  21. "White House PR chief resigns". BBC News. May 30, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  22. Evans, Garrett (May 30, 2017). "Comms director resigns amid shakeup rumors". The Hill. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  23. "Mysterious disappearance of Donald Trump's mouthpiece Sean Spicer". The New Zealand Herald. June 6, 2017. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  24. Dillion, Mathias (February 17, 2017). "White House to name Mike Dubke new communications director". Capitalbay. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
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