President Trump issued a statement Friday afternoon praising his former spokesman Sean Spicer, who angrily quit his job hours earlier.

“I am grateful for Sean’s work on behalf of my administration and the American people. I wish him continued success as he moves on to pursue new opportunities. Just look at his great television ratings,” Trump said in a statement read by spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders at the first on-camera press briefing since late June.

Spicer resigned after the appointment of Trump friend and New York financier Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director.

Bur Scaramucci praised Spicer during his own remarks at the briefing.

“Sean is a true American patriot. He’s a military serviceman. He’s got a great family and he’s done an amazing job,” he said.

“This is obviously a difficult situation to be in. And I applaud his efforts here and I love the guy and I wish him well. And I hope he goes on to make a tremendous amount of money.”