Incoming White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci called into CNN’s “New Day” this morning to speak with Chris Cuomo and it’s safe to say the interview was bananas.
Here are some highlights…
First up, President Trump authorized Scaramucci to call in:
I just asked Scaramucci whether Trump authorized him going on CNN to talk leaks and Preibus. "He did, yes," Scaramucci replied.
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) July 27, 2017
Leakers beware:
3. @Scaramucci says he knows who the senior White House leakers are.
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) July 27, 2017
On the ongoing feud with Reince Priebus, Scaramucci — who said last week that he and Priebus are like brothers — said today that some brothers are like Cain and Abel. Um…
Scaramucci on his relationship with Reince: "Some brothers are like Cain and Abel." Uh, Cain killed Abel. https://t.co/UQ8F9HiXLx
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) July 27, 2017
And he said reporters should ask Priebus if he’s the leaker or not:
Scaramucci: "If Reince wants to explain he's not the leaker he can do that."
— David Chalian (@DavidChalian) July 27, 2017
.@Scaramucci on if Priebus is leaker: “I can speak for my own actions. He’s gonna need to speak for his own actions” https://t.co/mPqyCHIGFK
— CNN (@CNN) July 27, 2017
And he doesn’t know if the relationship is repairable:
8. Scaramucci just now: "I don't know if the relationship with Reince is reparable…that's up to the President."
— Yashar Ali (@yashar) July 27, 2017
Scaramucci — rightfully so — hit back on folks in the West Wing who think it’s their job to protect America from Trump:
.@Scaramucci on CNN: "There are people inside the administration that think it is their job to save America from this president. Ok?"
— Dan Merica (@danmericaCNN) July 27, 2017
Scaramucci admitted to talking to Attorney General Jeff Sessions on leaks as well as “buddies in the FBI”:
Scaramucci tells CNN he talked to Sessions abt "leaks," also to "buddies in the FBI"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) July 27, 2017
On the Russia sanctions bill:
Scaramucci on sanctions bill: "He may decide to veto the sanctions and be tougher on the Russians than Congress."
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) July 27, 2017
.@Scaramucci: Trump “may sign the sanctions… or he may… negotiate an even tougher deal against the Russians.”
https://t.co/VOFYQx9frP— CNN (@CNN) July 27, 2017
But Scaramucci’s war on leakers seems to have had the opposite effect. Reporter and author Joshua Green was interviewed after Scaramucci and at one point he held up his phone to show new leaks coming in:
Green holds up phone: "I have Trump advisers saying, 'Dude, how bad was that?' 'How is this thing playing live on the air?' 'Call me…'" https://t.co/5ZlkzOWzOg
— New Day (@NewDay) July 27, 2017
.@JoshuaGreen: Scaramucci's "performance is creating more leaks live in real time. My phone is blowing up." https://t.co/z50lPU3vqw
— New Day (@NewDay) July 27, 2017
It appears that what set Scaramucci off was Ryan Lizza from the New Yorker reporting last night on a dinner in the White House that included Sean Hannity, Bill Shine, President Trump and Melania:
.@RyanLizza: It's "true. [Scaramucci and I] did talk last night." Call was "in the context of his war against leaks" https://t.co/e5ULqFGahn
— New Day (@NewDay) July 27, 2017
Scoop: Trump is dining tonight w/Sean Hannnity, Bill Shine (former Fox News executive), & Anthony Scaramucci, per to 2 knowledgeable sources
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) July 26, 2017
Senior White House official tells me that Melania was also at the dinner tonight with Trump, Hannity, Shine, and Scaramucci.
— Ryan Lizza (@RyanLizza) July 27, 2017
A source close to Scaramucci tells me that additionally, Kimberly Guilfoyle, the Fox News host, was there. https://t.co/vMz3lVNP5K
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) July 27, 2017
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