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 Trump1 until his resignation effective June 2, 2017.23

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 1988.7 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.8910111213

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.141516 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 pro-life 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.17

Americans for Job Security

Michael Dubke, David Carney, and several business groups helped start Americans for Job Security in 1997.18 Dubke was the first executive director and then president of Americans for Job Security until April 2008.19

Crossroads Media

In 2001, Dubke founded the Republican media services firm Crossroads Media.20 It was brought to a level of national prominence during the 2008 presidential campaign.21 The company provides services for American Crossroads, a super PAC founded by Karl Rove.22 While at Crossroads Media, Dubke worked on the campaign of New York congressman Chris Collins.23

Black Rock Group

Dubke co-founded the Black Rock Group with political operative Carl Forti.24 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 2016.25 Dubke also handled media for Republican Dan Sullivan's successful 2014 campaign against Mark Begich, also in Alaska.26

White House Communications Director

President Donald Trump offered Dubke the role of White House Director of Communications.27 He began on 6 March 2017.28 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.2930 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,31 however, his last day was June 2. Sean Spicer resumed the post as acting Director.32

Personal life

Dubke and his wife, Shannon, live in Alexandria, Virginia, with their two children.3334

References

1	President Donald J. Trump Announces White House Staff Appointments, whitehouse.gov, 6 March 2017, accessed 30 May 2017. LINK
2	Mysterious disappearance of Donald Trump's mouthpiece Sean Spicer, June 6, 2017, accessed June 6, 2017. LINK
3,30	Rucker, Philip. Dubke resigns as White House communications director, May 30, 2017, accessed May 30, 2017. LINK
4	Baker, Peter et al. As Trump Weighs Shake-Up, He Faces Recruiting Challenge, 30 May 2017. LINK
5,23,24,26	Zremski, Jerry et al. Hamburg native in line to be White House communications director, February 17, 2017. LINK
6,7,14,18,33	Leadership - Michael Dubke, Crossroads Media, LLC, accessed February 17, 2017. LINK
8,25	Herz, Nathaniel. Murkowski plans to hire Sullivan consultant for 2016 campaign, Alaska Dispatch News, March 4, 2015. LINK
9	Confessore, Nicholas. Steering the Right’s Vast Money Machine, The New York Times, July 21, 2012. LINK
10	66 Canal Center Plaza, Suite 555. LINK
11	Mcintire, Mike. Under a Tax-Exempt Cloak, Dollars Flow to Political Causes, The New York Times, September 23, 2010. LINK
12	Mcintire, Mike et al. Loose Border of ‘Super PAC’ and Romney Campaign, The New York Times, February 25, 2012. LINK
13	Americans for Job Security – how a shadow group hustles for funds, at Center for Public Integrity, 26 October 2010. LINK
15	Holmes, Steven A.. Elbowed Aside in '92, Moderates Expect to Feel Welcome at This G.O.P. Convention, The New York Times, August 5, 1996. LINK
16	Noble, Kenneth B.. Welfare Revamp, Halted in Capital, Proceeds Anyway, The New York Times, March 10, 1996. LINK
17	Senator Dole's Abortion Position, at C-SPAN.org. LINK
19	Hulse, Carl. Ads Push Estate Tax As Issue in Campaigns, The New York Times, 14 July 2002. LINK
20	Who We Are - CrossRoads Media, LLC (CRM), at Crossroadsmedia.tv, accessed 15 June 2017. LINK
21,27	Acosta, Jim et al. Officials: Mike Dubke to be named as WH comms director, February 17, 2017. LINK
22	Bucher, Chris. Mike Dubke: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know, February 17, 2017. LINK
28	"President Donald J. Trump Announces White House Staff Appointments", whitehouse.gov, March 06, 2017.
29	White House PR chief resigns, at BBC News. LINK
31	Evans, Garrett. Comms director resigns amid shakeup rumors, 30 May 2017. LINK
32	Mysterious disappearance of Donald Trump's mouthpiece Sean Spicer, June 6, 2017, accessed June 30, 2017. LINK
34	Dillion, Mathias. White House to name Mike Dubke new communications director, February 17, 2017, accessed June 15, 2017. LINK

External links

• Appearances on C-SPAN