WHITEHOUSE FIRESTORM
Trump communications chief Scaramucci fired after just 11 days on the job
Hours after President Trump swore in a new chief of staff, the White House announced that Anthony Scaramucci, the hard- charging and controversial communication director, would step down.
The announcement came on the 11th day the man known as “The Mooch” held the post.
“Mr. Scaramucci felt it was best to give Chief of Staff John Kelly a clean slate and the ability to build his own team,” White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said. “We wish him all the best.”
Scaramucci’s sudden departure came the same day retired general John Kelly took over as chief of staff.
Until this week, Kelly was Trump’s secretary of Homeland Security, a former combat leader expected to impose discipline in a White House rocked by weeks of staff shakeups and political missteps.
Kelly, who replaced Reince Priebus, insisted on full control of the staff when he took the job, while Scaramucci made clear he would report only to Trump, administration officials said under condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. The two agreed their relationship would not work.
Scaramucci, a Wall Street financier, was tapped to lead the White House communication shop July 21. It’s unclear who will replace him, leaving the press office in flux as the president disputes any reports of “chaos” at the WhiteHouse.
Upon taking the job, Scaramucci faced criticism for a lack of communication experience and a brash style that rubbed some West Wing colleagues the wrong way. Immediately after his hiring, Scaramucci loudly launched investigations of news leaks stemming from the Trump administration — and vowed to fire anyone caught talking out of school to the media.
Scaramucci’s departure came days after a report of his graphic and profane comments about Priebus and other staffers, such as senior adviser Steve Bannon. In an infamous phone call last week to The New Yorker, Scaramucci called Priebus a “paranoid schizophrenic” and threatened to fire the entire WhiteHouse communication team.
After the interview was published, Scaramucci took to Twitter to apologize for using “colorful” language on the job. Scaramucci’s tenure – though brief – prompted its own staff shakeup at the WhiteHouse.
Scaramucci’s hire led to the immediate resignation of White House spokesman Sean Spicer, who opposed his appointment, and later the removal of Priebus, Trump’s chief of staff, whose departure was announced late Friday. Scaramucci himself removed senior assistant press secretary Michael Short, a former Republican National Committee official who worked with the Trump campaign during 2016 and was brought into the White House by Priebus.
Sanders said there are no plans to reinstall Scaramucci to his previous job at the Export- Import Bank.
His removal as communications director stunned Republicans already critical of what they described as White House turmoil.
Florida- based Republican consultant and Trump critic Rick Wilson tweeted: “It’s not a dumpster fire. It’s a mountain of dumpsters, filled with burning tires.” And Democrats pounced. “I speak for a grateful nation when I say ‘ has it really only been 11 days?!” tweeted Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.