Showing posts with label Anthony Scaramucci. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Anthony Scaramucci. Show all posts

Monday, July 31, 2017

Scaramucci Removed from White House Role

Scaramucci, pictured here in 2016, seemed to be bringing
a more cordial attitude to the White House communications
office before revealing his animosity towards then
White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus in profane
conversation
Credit: Gage Skidmore
Anthony Scaramucci, a financier with a history of political involvement, was removed Monday by from his White House job as communications director before even formally stepping into the role. In a twist of fate, he was reportedly removed at the behest of the new White House chief of staff, former general and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly, who replaced Reince Priebus, who Scaramucci wanted gone.


Scaramucci's tenure coincided with a major shakeup in White House staff. Sean Spicer, who had been serving as acting White House communications director after his rocky tenure as press secretary (now filled by Sarah Huckabee Sanders, daughter of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee), resigned in protest following Scaramucci's hiring. Scaramucci played tribute to Spicer, and seemed to enjoy engaging with the White House press corps in his first press conference following the announcement of his hiring by the White House.

Scaramucci's profane rant to a reporter, in which he accused Priebus of being a leaker of confidential information and would be fired soon, no doubt contributed to his political demise. In addition, Scaramucci had boasted that he would only be reporting to Trump, and not to the chief of staff. Though Priebus was removed on Friday, Scaramucci was not far behind.

Scaramucci's actions and attitude simply proved too much for Kelly, who is seeking to exert control over the chaotic administration, which has suffered controversy after controversy relating to its relationship with the press, allegations of collusion with the Russian government during the 2016 campaign, and failure to pass a Republican-sponsored health care overhaul, a mainstay of Republican electoral promises for the past seven years.