Trump's daughter and son-in-law pushed Scaramucci's appointment

The appointment of the new White House communications chief Anthony Scaramucci was reportedly pushed by US President Donald Trump’s daughter Ivanka and her husband and presidential adviser Jared Kushner.

According to a Friday report by The New York Times, Kushner had grown “increasingly critical” of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer as well as Trump’s Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, regarding them as “party establishment figures who operate out of self-interest.”

Scaramucci’s appointment, which came two months after the previous communications director Mike Dubke stepped down, was also backed by Trump’s Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the report added, citing unnamed officials familiar with the transition.

In addition to Spicer – who “vehemently disagreed” with Trump’s newest appointee – Priebus as well as the US president’s chief strategist Stephen Bannon also “strongly opposed” the pick “in large part because he (Scaramucci) enjoys an easy banter and direct line to Mr. Trump, potentially threatening their positions, said the report citing “four people briefed on the discussions.”

It noted, however, that people close to the senior White House officials insisted they had not opposed Trump’s appointment.

The Times further described Spicer’s resignation as “a blow to the embattled White House chief of staff,” who had served as the Republican National Committee chairman and brought Spicer into the White House despite skepticism from Trump, who initially questioned his loyalty.

Citing sources familiar with the White House shake-up, the report further points out that one of the reasons Trump hired Scaramucci was “to cut down on anonymous leaking,” taking “a swipe” at his two top advisers.

The sources further cited Trump as asking Priebus and Bannon how the leaks were happening, and referred to Spicer as a “good guy” who “leaks only when told to by Mr. Priebus,” according to the report.

It added that in recent weeks Trump had told people that Spicer was no longer “tough,” while the former White House spokesman complained to friends that he was tired of being blindsided by Trump and weary of his constant criticism.

According to the daily, Spicer instituted the highly controversial practice of holding off-camera press briefings, “less so to snub reporters than to avoid Mr. Trump’s critiques of his performance.”

After offering Scaramucci – a Wall Street financier -- the job Friday morning, Trump called on Spicer to stay on as press secretary, but he rejected the offer, expressing his belief that Scaramucci’s appointment would add to the confusion and uncertainty already engulfing the White House.

Read More:

• Sean Spicer resigns as White House spokesman

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