Saturday July 22, 2017
NEW YORK – He was the only Trump ally on stage that day.
Yet Anthony Scaramucci didn't seem to mind the tough questions from MSNBC host Joe Scarborough or the hostile crowd that filled the luxury hotel ballroom at last month's private gathering of Mitt Romney supporters. Scaramucci drew from his working-class New York roots to explain Trump's appeal.
"He did a better job telling the Donald Trump narrative than anybody I've heard," said Spencer Zwick, a longtime Romney ally. "Did he change anyone's mind? I think he probably did."
Scaramucci formally became Trump's new communications chief on Friday and is now tasked with crafting the president's communications strategy amid escalating political crises and sinking popularity. But for all his passionate defense of Trump in recent months, Scaramucci becomes one of the least experienced White House communications directors in recent memory.
Trump press secretary Sean Spicer quit in response to the hiring, objecting to what he considered Scaramucci's lack of qualifications, as well as the direction of the press operation, according to people familiar with the situation.Scaramucci joins the White House directly from Wall Street, where he made a name for himself as a hedge fund manager who enjoyed appearing on TV — and rubbing elbows with celebrities like Trump — as he emerged as a prominent GOP donor.
He is described as less a political operative than a quick-thinking New York operator.
He ended his first appearance at the White House briefing room podium Friday with a blown kiss to the assembled press.
Scaramucci, who grew up on Long Island in the shadow of New York City, shoveled snow and delivered newspapers as a child to make money. He would go on to graduate from Harvard Law School before heading to Wall Street.
He worked for Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs, ultimately founding SkyBridge Capital, which managed more than $11 billion when it went up for sale late last year. He joins the Trump administration before he's fully divested from the firm, but expects final approval by summer's end.
Scaramucci's path on Wall Street led him to a friendship with Trump years ago.
Both were once Democrats. Scaramucci helped raise money for President Barack Obama before souring on the president's treatment of Wall Street. Once he became a Republican, however, he was slow to support Trump.
Scaramucci first served as a fundraising chairman for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's short-lived campaign before moving on to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's bid. He joined Trump's campaign only after Bush dropped out.
The sharp-tongued Scaramucci was a vocal Trump critic at that time, however.
He ultimately joined Trump's team once it became clear the New York businessman would be the nominee.
Given Scaramucci's lack of experience, however, it's unclear how he plans to manage the president's communications strategy. He said Friday that he discussed the path forward with Trump earlier in the day.
"We were talking about letting him be himself, letting himself express his full identity. I think he's got some of the best political instincts in the world and perhaps in history," Scaramucci said.