Trump’s new communications chief once backed Hillary Clinton Donald Trump’s new communications chief previously supported Hillary Clinton’s presidential ambitions. Financier Anthony Scaramucci was appointed on Friday – prompting […]

Donald Trump’s new communications chief previously supported Hillary Clinton’s presidential ambitions. Financier Anthony Scaramucci was appointed on Friday – prompting the resignation of embattled White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

Mr Scaramucci has little experience of either Republican party politics or handling media relations. He founded global investment firm SkyBridge Capital in 2005, and hosted investment news TV show Wall Street Week.

He raised money for Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, but later accused the Democrat president of “whacking Wall Street like a piñata”.

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Competent Clinton

In a series of tweets in 2012, he said he hoped Ms Clinton would run at the 2016 presidential election. He described her as “incredibly competent”.

He later turned against Ms Clinton too – but he remained critical of Mr Trump. On a Fox News in August 2015, Scaramucci called Trump a “hack politician” who used “divisive” language. He deleted several of the tweets, but they were spotted by US freelance journalist Josh Billinson.

In a tweet which remains online, Mr Scaramucci said: “Walls don’t work. Never have never will. The Berlin Wall 1961-1989 don’t fall for it.”

Jeb!

In 2015, he served as national finance chairman of Scott Walker’s presidential campaign. When Mr Walker withdrew, he went on to support George W. Bush’s younger brother Jeb in the race for the 2016 Republican nomination. Following Mr Bush’s campaign flop, he signed up to support Mr Trump.

According to the New York Times, White House chief of staff Reince Priebus objected to Mr Scaramucci’s appointment over concerns about his overseas investment. Mr Spicer also believed it would be a mistake, and refused to serve as a subordinate to the investment mogul.

But speaking at the White House after his appointment, Mr Scaramucci praised Mr Spicer. “This is obviously a difficult situation but I wish him well and I hope he goes on to make a tremendous amount of money,” he said.