Donald Trump's White House was considering hiring disgraced Fox News exec Bill Shine

Former Fox News co-president Bill Shine could have been part of a Trump White House

Published August 1, 2017 1:41PM (EDT)

 (Rainmaker Photo/mediapunch/mediapunch/ipx)
(Rainmaker Photo/mediapunch/mediapunch/ipx)

The dismissal of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci marked the 16th exit from Trump's administration since he took office in January — and now, the communications team may fill a position with a fitting source: a former network television producer.

Bill Shine, a former co-president of Fox News who was forced out of the network after being accused of overing up racial and sexual discrimination, spoke to White House officials Wednesday during a private dinner with the president and the first lady, Scaramucci, and Fox News channel star Sean Hannity, according to the New York Times.

The Trump administration considered adding Shine — who has no political experience — to their communications team to take "advantage of his skills producing and staging televised events." Although the White House said Shine is no longer being considered for the position, the prospect seemed likely, especially because he has Hannity — an informal advisor to Trump — as an ally.

Hannity has dismissed allegations suggesting he tried to help Shine become part of the administration. "Bill Shine is talented enough that he doesn’t need my help in getting a job in the White House or any other position," he said in a statement

Lost in his off-the-rails interview with The New Yorker, Scaramucci hinted at the addition of Shine to the communications team. "'‘Oh, Bill Shine is coming in," he said while impersonating former chief of staff Reince Priebus. And later, in a colorfully-worded sentence, he suggested Priebus was trying to sabotage his role in the White House by leaking information.


By Alessandra Maldonado

Alessandra Maldonado is an editorial intern at Salon. You can find her on Twitter at @alessamberr

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Anthony Scaramucci Bill Shine Communications Director Fox News Sean Hannity Trump