Even by the standards of the Trump administration, an organisation in which time warps and telescopes like that of a fever dream, the Scaramucci era was brief to the point of abrupt.

Anthony Scaramucci, the New York financier with no political or communications experience was named White House Communications Director on July 21.

He unofficially assumed his duties on July 25, though his official start date was not to be until August 15. He was sacked on July 31, a fortnight before he began.

Like Sean Spicer, the White House spokesman who welcomed "The Mooch" by resigning, he marked his first day on the job by so thoroughly debasing himself before the White House press corps that he could never hope to gain even passing respect.