Michael Dubke

American entrepreneur & political aide (born 1970)

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 (age 54)
Hamburg, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseShannon Mullins
Children2
EducationHamilton College, New York (BA)

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]

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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b c d Zremski, Jerry; McCarthy, Robert J. (February 17, 2017). "Hamburg native in line to be White House communications director". The Buffalo News.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Leadership - Michael Dubke". Crossroads Media, LLC. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  7. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by White House Director of Communications
2017 		Succeeded by
  • v
  • t
  • e
Office Name Term Office Name Term
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus 2017 National Security Advisor Michael Flynn 2017
John F. Kelly 2017–19 H. R. McMaster 2017–18
Mick Mulvaney 2019–20 John Bolton 2018–19
Mark Meadows 2020–21 Robert C. O'Brien 2019–21
Principal Deputy Chief of Staff Katie Walsh 2017 Deputy National Security Advisor K. T. McFarland 2017
Kirstjen Nielsen 2017 Ricky L. Waddell 2017–18
James W. Carroll 2017–18 Mira Ricardel 2018
Zachary Fuentes 2018–19 Charles Kupperman 2019
Emma Doyle 2019–20 Matthew Pottinger 2019–21
Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Rick Dearborn 2017–18 Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert 2017–18
Chris Liddell 2018–21 Doug Fears 2018–19
Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations Joe Hagin 2017–18 Peter J. Brown 2019–20
Daniel Walsh 2018–19 Julia Nesheiwat 2020–21
Anthony M. Ornato 2019–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Strategy Dina Powell 2017–18
Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications Bill Shine 2018–19 Nadia Schadlow 2018
Dan Scavino 2020–21 Dep. Natl. Security Advisor, Middle East and North African Affairs Victoria Coates 2019–20
Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway 2017–20 White House Communications Director Sean Spicer 2017
Steve Bannon 2017 Michael Dubke 2017
Johnny DeStefano 2018–19 Anthony Scaramucci 2017
Hope Hicks 2020–21 Hope Hicks 2017–18
Derek Lyons 2020–21 Bill Shine 2018–19
Senior Advisor, Strategic Planning Jared Kushner 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20
Senior Advisor, Policy Stephen Miller 2017–21 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer 2017
Senior Advisor, Economic Issues Kevin Hassett 2020 Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017–19
Advisor Ivanka Trump 2017–21 Stephanie Grisham 2019–20
Director, Public Liaison George Sifakis 2017 Kayleigh McEnany 2020–21
Johnny DeStefano 2017–18 Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders 2017
Justin R. Clark 2018 Raj Shah 2017–19
Steve Munisteri 2018–19 Hogan Gidley 2019–20
Timothy Pataki 2019–21 Brian R. Morgenstern 2020–21
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs Justin R. Clark 2017–18 Director, Strategic Communications Hope Hicks 2017
Douglas Hoelscher 2019–21 Mercedes Schlapp 2017–19
Director, National Economic Council Gary Cohn 2017–18 Alyssa Farah 2020
Larry Kudlow 2018–21 Director, Social Media Dan Scavino 2017–19
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers Kevin Hassett 2017–19 Director, Legislative Affairs Marc Short 2017–18
Tomas J. Philipson 2019–20 Shahira Knight 2018–19
Tyler Goodspeed 2020–21 Eric Ueland 2019–20
Chair, Domestic Policy Council Andrew Bremberg 2017–19 Amy Swonger 2020–21
Joe Grogan 2019–20 Director, Political Affairs Bill Stepien 2017–18
Brooke Rollins 2020–21 Brian Jack 2019–21
Director, National Trade Council Peter Navarro 2017–21 Director, Presidential Personnel Johnny DeStefano 2017–18
White House Counsel Don McGahn 2017–18 Sean E. Doocey 2018–20
Emmet Flood 2018 John McEntee 2020–21
Pat Cipollone 2018–21 Director, Management & Administration Marcia L. Kelly 2017–18
White House Cabinet Secretary Bill McGinley 2017–19 Monica J. Block 2018–21
Matthew J. Flynn 2019 White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter 2017–18
Kristan King Nevins 2019–21 Derek Lyons 2018–21
Personal Aide to the President John McEntee 2017–18 Director, Science & Technology Policy Kelvin Droegemeier 2019–21
Jordan Karem 2018 Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios 2019–21
Nicholas Luna 2018–19 Director, Management & Budget Mick Mulvaney 2017–19
Director, Oval Office Operations Keith Schiller 2017 Russell Vought 2019–21
Jordan Karem 2017–19 Chief Information Officer Suzette Kent 2018–20
Madeleine Westerhout 2019 United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer 2017–21
Nicholas Luna 2019–21 Director, National Drug Control Policy James W. Carroll 2018–21
Chief of Staff to the First Lady Lindsay Reynolds 2017–20 Chair, Council on Environmental Quality Mary Neumayr 2018–21
Stephanie Grisham 2020–21 Chief of Staff to the Vice President Josh Pitcock 2017
White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd 2017–21 Nick Ayers 2017–19
White House Chief Usher Angella Reid† 2017 Marc Short 2019–21
Timothy Harleth 2017–21 Special Representative, International Negotiations Avi Berkowitz 2019–21
Physician to the President Ronny Jackson† 2017–18 COVID-19 Medical Advisors Deborah Birx 2020–21
Sean Conley 2018–21 Anthony Fauci 2020–21
Director, White House Military Office Keith Davids 2017–21 Scott Atlas 2020–21
† Remained from previous administration.