Bill Shine “In Final Talks” to Become White House Communications Director

Bill Shine, left, who had worked at Fox News for 20 years. Donald Trump, right, on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., April 28, 2017.

Former Fox News co-president Bill Shine is the frontrunner for White House Communications Director, a position looking for its fifth appointment. Fox’s White House correspondent John Roberts tweeted that Mr. Shine “is in final talks” with President Donald Trump and that an announcement “could be soon.”

“SCOOP: Former @FoxNews co-president Bill Shine is in final talks with @realDonaldTrump about becoming @WhiteHouse Communications Director,” he tweeted. “Announcement could be soon.”

SCOOP: Former @FoxNews co-president Bill Shine is in final talks with @realDonaldTrump about becoming @WhiteHouse Communications Director. Announcement could be soon.

— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) June 27, 2018

Mr. Shine worked at Fox News for roughly 20 years before he resigned as co-president, something Sean Hannity said would be “the total end of the FNC.” An internal memo sent out by Rupert Murdoch announced Suzanne Scott would become president of programming and Jay Wallace would become president of news, making the leadership far more liberal than ever before in the history of the channel.

The resignation came after Mr. Murdoch’s sons James and Lachlan — the CEO and co-chairman, respectively, of network parent company 21st Century Fox — refused to release a statement in support of him. Competitors criticized his handling of the slew of sexual harassment cases that plagued FNC, which transpired before similar cases at other outlets.

The Murdoch sons are also liberal.

If the two reach an agreement, Mr. Shine would replace Hope Hicks who stepped in to replace Anthony Scaramucci as the head of the 40-person strong communications department. Mr. Scaramucci resigned after only 10 full days on the job, a demand made by the then-new Chief of Staff General John F. Kelly.

Ms. Hicks was the fourth person to serve as White House Communications Director and lasted the longest — 196 days. Mr. Scaramucci took over the job that had been vacant since late May. Mike Dubke, rumored to have been a leaker, left after only 88 days on the job.

Sean Spicer, the former White House Press Secretary, took over as acting communications director for 49 days before he resigned when Mr. Scaramucci was hired on July 21.