During the brief moment that he was White House communications director, Anthony Scaramucci authored a memo detailing his plans for an overhaul of the West Wing staff culture, including “professionalizing initiatives” that included always treating people “respectfully”.
The so-called “communications plan”, which was published Wednesday by the rightwing media personality Mike Cernovich, called for the White House press office to “professionalize” its operations and make more use of Donald Trump’s senior counselor, Kellyanne Conway.
(July 21, 2017) “I think it’s super important for us to let the president express his personality”
Scaramucci, loyal and telegenic, was named White House communication director, a move that immediately prompted the resignation of press secretary Sean Spicer.
(July 22, 2017) "Full transparency: I'm deleting old tweets."
Scaramucci spent his first Saturday on the job cleaning up his Twitter feed to remove historic tweets critical of the president and his agenda.
(July 23, 2017) "We’re strong as our weakest leak”
'The Mooch', as he likes to be known, appeared on the Sunday morning politics TV shows. He promised to root out “leakers” and said any he found would be fired.
(July 24, 2017) "A great night in West Virginia."
Scaramucci’s estranged wife, Deidre Ball, gave birth to their second child in New York. Scaramucci traveled on Air Force One with the president to the Boy Scouts annual jamboree.
(July 25, 2017) “If the leaks continue, then I’ve got to let everybody go”
Thumbs up and smiles aboard Air Force One on the way to Ohio.
(July 26, 2017) “I’m not Steve Bannon, I’m not trying to suck my own cock”
Scaramucci dined at the White House with the president, the first lady, Fox News host Sean Hannity and former Fox News executive Bill Shine. After dinner, he placed a fateful call to New Yorker writer, Ryan Lizza...
(July 27, 2017) “I sometimes use colorful language"
... The New Yorker published that conversation.
(July 28, 2017) "Leave civilians out of this"
The New York Post reported that Scaramucci’s infatuation with Trump was a catalyst for his wife’s decision to file for divorce while nine months pregnant. Meanwhile Trump announces on Twitter that Reince Priebus is out as chief of staff.
(July 31, 2017) “Anthony Scaramucci will be leaving his role as White House communications director"
Scaramucci watched as John Kelly was sworn in as the president’s new chief of staff. Hours later, the White House announced that Scaramucci was out as White House communications director, reportedly at the urging of Kelly.
“Implement a series of professionalizing initiatives immediately,” Scaramucci, who lasted little more than a week on the job, wrote.
“For example, no [White House] communication staffer goes home without returning all calls, emails, and texts. People may not like our answers – but they should always be treated professionally and respectfully (obviously, this starts with the new Director of Communications).”
Scaramucci’s memo is dated 30 July, two days after his profanity-laced interview attacking fellow White House officials was published by the New Yorker.
Of Conway, who frequently defends Trump on television, Scaramucci added: “She has consistently been the President’s most effective spokesperson, and she provides a direct link to the President’s historic electoral victory.”
Scaramucci confirmed the authenticity of the memo to BuzzFeed News and suggested he would reveal his next moves as early as next week.
The former hedge fund manager, known by his nickname the Mooch, drew national attention when he was named communications director on 21 July in a move that sparked immediate controversy inside the White House. Sean Spicer resigned as press secretary in protest, and the chief of staf,f Reince Priebus, was forced out just a week later, after the interview, in which Scaramucci attacked both Priebus and Steve Bannon, Trump’s chief strategist, was made public by the New Yorker writer Ryan Lizza.
In the “communications plan”, Scaramucci makes note of a “to-do list” that includes a possible meeting with Lizza, “not to litigate the past – to reset for moving forward”.
But Scaramucci did not get a chance to implement his plan, as he was abruptly removed from his role on Monday, reportedly at the suggestion of John Kelly, who served as Trump’s secretary for the Department of Homeland Security before being named as the president’s replacement for Priebus as the new chief of staff.
Although he lasted just 11 days at the helm of Trump’s communications team, Scaramucci had ambitious priorities that focused on setting the narrative from the White House as opposed to constantly reacting to the news. He also expressed a desire to improve relations between the Trump administration and the media, but maintained a somewhat skeptical view of the political press.
“Meet with media members (MSM, conservative media, and new media), where possible, on their home turf to build bridges and foster better working relationships,” he wrote. “WH should leave old grudges behind, but never forget.”
