Politico | Inside Donald Trump’s feud with Anthony Scaramucci
- There’s no strategy behind the attacks – but allies are piling on to win the president’s favour and private praise
This story is published in a content partnership with POLITICO. It was originally reported by Daniel Lippman on politico.com on August 21, 2019.
It’s open season on The Mooch.
As US President Donald Trump’s feud with Anthony Scaramucci stretches past the brief flicker of time he served in the White House, the president’s supporters have been taking their own whacks at the man who has suddenly become Public Enemy No. 1.
And Trump has been grateful, reaching out to “give attaboys” to allies who have attacked his former communications director, according to a person close to the White House.
The schoolyard drama surrounding Scaramucci offers a revealing look inside how Trump’s wider orbit works – a daily scrum for his attention and affection.
As one former senior White House official described it, the Twitter-powered opprobrium the president has directed at his one-time aide – along with his private praise of others’ follow-on attacks – amounts to clear instructions for people around Trump to “fire at will” at Scaramucci.
“He takes extra pleasure in seeing people tee off on Anthony,” said the person close to the White House.