Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci had a blunt response when was asked on Monday if he no longer supports President Trump’s re-election bid: “I think that’s pretty obvious.”
“I’m a Republican so I’m not switching parties to support a Democrat. I believe in the values and the policies of the Republican party. I’m now neutral on the president,” Scaramucci told CNN’s John Berman.
Scaramucci, a former administration insider who fought with the president on Twitter Saturday night, said Trump is “dissembling a little bit and he’s sounding more and more nonsensical,” which is “fracturing the institutions and all of the things the country stands for.”
In recent weeks, Scaramucci has appeared on cable news networks to caution that the president’s rhetoric is racist and could lose him supporters, as well as to say he saw a link between Trump’s talk on immigration and the recent mass shooting in El Paso, Texas. During those appearances, he was clear that he was still a supporter of Trump’s, but wanted to see the president focus on policy and the economy over divisive tweets.
However, Trump attacked Scaramucci via Twitter Saturday night: “Anthony Scaramucci, who was quickly terminated (11 days) from a position that he was totally incapable of handling, now seems to do nothing but television as the all time expert on ‘President Trump.’ Like many other so-called television experts, he knows very little about me…..”
“Other than the fact that this Administration has probably done more than any other Administration in its first 2 1/2 years of existence. Anthony, who would do anything to come back in, should remember the only reason he is on TV, and it’s not for being the Mooch!” he continued.
Scaramucci initially responded to on Twitter, “For the last 3 years I have fully supported this President. Recently he has said things that divide the country in a way that is unacceptable. So I didn’t pass the 100% litmus test. Eventually he turns on everyone and soon it will be you and then the entire country.”
Then, he appeared on CNN’s “New Day” on Monday morning to make his position clearer.
Finally, after the show, he tweeted again, doubling down on what he’d told Berman: “To those asking, “what took so long?” You’re right. I tried to see best in @realDonaldTrump based on private interactions and select policy alignment. But his increasingly divisive rhetoric – and damage it’s doing to fabric of our society – outweighs any short-term economic gain.”