Sean Spicer said Friday that he resigned as White House press secretary because of having "too many cooks in the kitchen" while trying to promote President Donald Trump's agenda.
"I just thought it was in the best interest of our communications department, of our press organization, to not have too many cooks in the kitchen," Spicer told Fox News host Sean Hannity shortly after his resignation.
Trump did not want him to quit, he said.
Spicer resigned Friday after the president named Anthony Scaramucci communications director.
Scaramucci, 53, a campaign fundraiser for Trump and regular adviser during the presidential transition, announced later that Spicer's deputy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, would be promoted to his position.
Spicer, 45, a Navy veteran, is remaining at the White House through August. During the campaign, he was chief strategist and communications director of the Republican National Committee.
"He wanted to bring some new folks in to help rev-up the communications operation," Spicer told Hannity of President Trump. "After reflection, my decision was to recommend to the president that I give Anthony and Sarah a clean slate to start from."
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus — who also reportedly opposed Scaramucci's appointment, along with chief strategist Steve Bannon — told Hannity that Spicer was departing on good terms.
"Sean leaving doesn't mean that Sean isn't going to be out there supporting President Trump — and it doesn't mean that President Trump isn't going to be out there supporting Sean Spicer," Priebus told Hannity.
"I've seen how the world around the president works and it's very healthy and he cares about his people."