WH: Scaramucci ‘Does Not Have A Role At This Time’ In Trump Administration

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders arrives to speak at the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, July 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders arrives to speak at the daily briefing at the White House in Washington, Monday, July 31, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that ousted White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci had no role in the Trump administration.

“He does not have a role at this time in the Trump administration,” Sanders said at a press briefing Monday, shortly after news broke of Scaramucci’s abrupt departure. “And we put out a statement earlier announcing that, and I don’t have much else add.”

Sanders added that Scaramucci was not working at the Export-Import Bank, either, despite him being named to a position at the agency in June before being named communications director.

“Look, the President certainly felt that Anthony’s comments were inappropriate for a person in that position,” she said separately, referring to a profanity laced interview Scaramucci gave the New Yorker’s Ryan Lizza. Trump has actually never commented on that interview. “He didn’t want to burden General Kelly, also, with that line of succession,” she said.

“General Kelly has the full authority to operate within the White House and all staff will report to him,” Sanders added, describing the White House chain of command under Trump’s new chief of staff.

A White House statement announcing Scaramucci’s appointment as communications director on July 21 said that Scaramucci would “report directly to the President.” That was seen at the time as a blow to then-chief of staff Reince Priebus.

Sanders said later, referring to Scaramucci’s resignation: “I think this was a mutually agreed conversation that took place between several people.” 

This post has been updated.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: