Anthony Scaramucci calls in to CNN's "New Day," implodes on live TV

The new communications director called CNN to complain about leaks but all he revealed was chaos in the White House

Published July 27, 2017 11:12AM (EDT)

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) ((AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File))
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) ((AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File))

Anthony Scaramucci brought his White House drama to TV on Thursday, calling in to CNN's "New Day" to gripe about all the leaks pouring out of the West Wing.

The White House communications director took a page out of his boss's playbook, as he provided a blunt, yet haphazard interview with host Chris Cuomo.

Here were some of the most bizarre moments from the interview:

1. Scaramucci throws Reince Priebus under the bus 

Scaramucci candidly admitted Thursday that his relationship with Priebus, the current White House chief of staff, may be irreparable. He said that it was up to the president to determine whether the two could coexist as senior staff.

Scaramucci's beef with Priebus isn't new, and on Thursday he told Cuomo that his "brotherly" relationship with Priebus was "like Cain and Abel." But the latest salvo stemmed from reports on his financial disclosure forms, which are matters of public record. Nevertheless, Scaramucci has directly implicated Priebus as the mastermind behind all the leaks.

"If Reince wants to explain that he's not a leaker, let him do that," Scaramucci said.

http://twitter.com/CNN/status/890532004629946369

2. Scaramucci and Trump have a list of names who have leaked

Scaramucci confirmed to Cuomo that he has interrogated the communications staff about the leaks to the press. He said that he has identified the "senior leakers" in the White House.

“We have a very very good idea of who the leakers are — who the senior leakers are in the White House,” Scaramucci said. This, coupled with a deleted tweet about his financial disclosure "leak," seems to indicate that he viewed Priebus as a "senior leaker."

The White House communications director said he was working with law enforcement to undercut the leaking.

http://twitter.com/CNN/status/890530745244033025

3. Leakers would have been hanged 150 years ago

When Scaramucci discussed the leaking problem, it sounded as if his sole concern was around the leaks that have undermined him personally. He specifically referenced a report from Wednesday night about a dinner he had with the first lady.

Cuomo started to point this out to Scaramucci, so the communications director pivoted and said that the leaks involving "Syria, Iraq and Russia" were of the greatest concern.

"Those are the types of leaks that were so treasonous that a 150 years ago people would have been hung for those types of leaks," Scaramucci said.

http://twitter.com/CNN/status/890560100888449024

4. Trump may veto Russia sanctions to impose tougher penalties

Perhaps the most absurd statement from the interview was Scaramucci's comments on Russia sanctions. Scaramucci suggested that the president has not yet made up his mind on the congressional bill that will soon come to his desk for signing.

“He may sign the sanctions exactly the way they are, or he may veto the sanctions and negotiate an even tougher deal against the Russians,” Scaramucci said. "He has a counter-intuitive, counter-punching personality."

http://twitter.com/CNN/status/890535269069344768


By Taylor Link

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