Anthony Scaramucci, Donald Trump’s new Communications Director, gave a jaw dropping interview to The New Yorker, in which he, among other things, is alleged to have called Chief of Staff Reince Priebus “a f*cking paranoid schizophrenic, a paranoiac.”
That was just for starters.
The brash, self-made millionaire financier from New York also had some choice words to say about White House adviser Steve Bannon and leakers to reporter Ryan Lizza.
Scaramucci later took to Twitter to say, “I sometimes use colorful language. I will refrain in this arena but not give up the passionate fight for @realDonaldTrump’s agenda. #MAGA.” There’s no word yet on what Trump thinks about Scaramucci’s headline-making vent.
Although Scaramucci’s New Yorker interview took colorful quotes to new heights, he’s no stranger to such drama.
Here’s a round-up of some of Scaramucci’s most colorful and interesting quotes, from The New Yorker story and other interviews:
Scaramucci Quotes in New Yorker Article by Ryan Lizza
Stephen Bannon.
On Steve Bannon, White House adviser: “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own c*ck. I’m not trying to build my own brand off the fucking strength of the President. I’m here to serve the country.”
On Reince Priebus, Trump’s Chief of Staff: “Reince is a f*cking paranoid schizophrenic, a paranoiac.”
Mimicking Priebus: “Oh, Bill Shine is coming in. Let me leak the f*cking thing and see if I can c*ck-block these people the way I c*ck-blocked Scaramucci for six months.”
On leakers in the White House: “What I’m going to do is, I will eliminate everyone in the comms team and we’ll start over…I’ve asked people not to leak things for a period of time and give me a honeymoon period. They won’t do it.”
On firing leakers: “They’ll all be fired by me. I fired one guy the other day. I have three to four people I’ll fire tomorrow. I’ll get to the person who leaked that to you. Reince Priebus—if you want to leak something—he’ll be asked to resign very shortly.”
You can read the full New Yorker piece here.
Quotes on CNN About Loving Trump, Italian Expressions & Being From New York
GettyAnthony Scaramucci.
Scaramucci has also uttered a series of eye-popping quotes on CNN since joining the White House staff. Here are some of the more colorful comments:
On leaks: “Those are the types of leaks that are so treasonous that 150 years ago, people would have been hung for those types of leaks.”
On New York: “You’re from New York, I’m from New York, the President is from New York.”
On how much he loves Trump: “We had dinner last night. I sat next to the first lady. I love the president.”
On Reince again: “When I said we were brothers from the podium, that’s because we’re — some brothers are like Cain and Abel.”
On Italian sayings: “As you know from the Italian expression, the fish stinks from the head down.”
You can read more of Scaramucci’s CNN quotes here.
On Trump Being a ‘Hack’ & Other Assorted Things
President Donald Trump.
Before Scaramucci thought Trump was great, he said Trump was a hack. He’s since apologized. Scaramucci made the comments about Trump in 2015 on a Fox Business show panel. Here’s a sampling of what he said about Trump then:
“Another hack politician … it’s anti-American, it’s very, very divisive and I’ll tell you who he’s going to be president of, the Queens Country Bullies Association.”
“You gotta cut it out now and stop all this crazy rhetoric.”
“I don’t like the way he talks about women, I don’t like the way he talks about our friend Megyn Kelly and, you know what, the politicians don’t want to go at Trump because he’s got a big mouth and they’re afraid he’s gonna light ’em up on Fox News and all these other places but I’m not a politician — bring it.”
On Joe Paterno, Sean Spicer & Other Things
GettyFormer White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
Scaramucci has shot off his mouth in some colorful ways on many other topics too.
On disgraced coach Joe Paterno in 2012: “I met Joe Paterno twice (’92 & ’96) he was an honorable man. He made the mistake–not understanding evil comes in the form of many faces.” (He quoted Paterno again on CNN recently, saying, “Why don’t you honor the job?” Scaramucci said. “Remember Joe Paterno? What would he say? Act like you’ve been there before. Act with honor and dignity and respect and hold the confidence of the presidency and his office.”
On Sean Spicer, who quit when Scaramucci was hired (to Fox News), “He’s done an amazing job, I wish him well and I hope he goes on to make a tremendous amount of money.”
On firing Michael Short, another RNC press aide in the White House (to Fox News), “This is the problem with the leaking, this is actually a terrible thing. Let’s say I’m firing Michael Short today. The fact that you guys know about it before he does really upsets me as a human being and as a Roman Catholic.”
On calling Trump a hack, “Mr. President, if you’re listening, I apologize for the 50th time for saying that.”
On His Family, Upbringing & Italian Heritage
Anthony Scaramucci.
Scaramucci, before he joined the White House, often spoke glowingly about his middle class upbringing, his Italian roots, and his father, who worked in sand mines on Long Island.
“My dad worked in the sand mines there for 42 years. Gotham Sand and Stone. It’s now a golf course,” Scaramucci said in a Q and A with Long Island Business News. “…I participated in that sand miner’s monument as you head into Roslyn dedicated to the Italian, Welsh, Polish and Irish immigrants who came to Long Island to dig out the sand bank.”
He wrote on Facebook: “My dad labored in the sand mines of Long Island for 42 years. He taught me what it meant to put in an honest day’s work for an honest day’s pay. Now he has trouble hearing due to the effects of heavy machinery, but he’d tell you it was worth it. My father’s sacrifices allowed his children to be upwardly mobile.”
He told Fonderia USA: “I am Italian. I love my heritage, my upbringing and the culture that I came from. I make no apologies for being me.” He added, “I am in love with Italy. I am proud of my Italian descent and believe that in the long-term the Italian people are very resilient.”