Scaramucci deletes old tweets bashing Trump

President Trump’s new White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci went on a Twitter purge Friday, deleting years-old tweets bashing his new boss and supporting positions like gun control.

One of the deleted tweets referred to the Trump campaign as a “spectacle,” which was pointed out by a reporter who was swiftly blocked by Scaramucci.

Uh oh! @Scaramucci is deleting old tweets that criticized Trump. Don’t worry, the internet is forever! pic.twitter.com/ksCeBVIzU5

— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) July 21, 2017

Annnnd he blocked me pic.twitter.com/umAvsHTUOa

— Josh Billinson (@jbillinson) July 21, 2017

Another deleted tweet praised Trump’s eventual challenger, Hillary Clinton. In a now-deleted tweet from 2012, Scaramucci calls the former Democratic secretary of State “incredibly competent.” Another deleted tweet from the same year included a statistic on gun ownership in the United States, and a third included a direct statement of support for “strong gun control laws.”

@Scaramucci @realDonaldTrump Deleted tweets by @Scaramucci. pic.twitter.com/VJMY1n0Id9

— JR CASTILLO (@jayrcastillo24) July 21, 2017

One tweet attacked top Trump supporter and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, insulting his “judgment” for joining the Trump team.

These tweets were just deleted by @Scaramucci. pic.twitter.com/VpfVkQiiUp

— Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) July 21, 2017

Scaramucci seems to only be scrubbing specific tweets containing references that may be damaging to his new role at the White House. One tweet containing a meaningless string of symbols that was sent in 2013 remained up after Scaramucci’s purge.

%kIIiiIIk`NJJjnnjnjNnjNnnnnnnnnnnnnNjjnNnNNJjNjn.q”+o

— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) January 28, 2013

During a White House press briefing on Friday, Scaramucci apologized for old comments he made attacking Trump, who he said “never” lets Scaramucci forget his old remarks.

“He brings it up every 15 seconds, OK? One of the biggest mistakes I made, because I was an inexperienced person in the world of politics. I was supporting another candidate. I should have never said that about him. So Mr. President, if you’re listening, I personally apologize for the 50th time for saying that,” Scaramucci said.

{mosads}
Scaramucci was responding to a reporter’s question about a video that resurfaced from 2015 that shows him calling Trump a “hack” and suggesting he would select Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) as his running mate.

“That’s another hack politician. He’s a hack politician. He’s probably going to make Elizabeth Warren his vice presidential nominee with comments like that,” Scaramucci says in the video.

Scaramucci was appointed White House communications director on Friday, despite reported pushback from press secretary Sean Spicer, who later confirmed his resignation in response. Spicer said he would leave his post at the end of August.

The new communications chief acknowledged the deletions on Saturday.

“Full transparency: I’m deleting old tweets,” he wrote. “Past views evolved & shouldn’t be a distraction. I serve @POTUS agenda & that’s all that matters.”

Full transparency: I’m deleting old tweets. Past views evolved & shouldn’t be a distraction. I serve @POTUS agenda & that’s all that matters

— Anthony Scaramucci (@Scaramucci) July 22, 2017

 – This post was updated July 22 at 1:22 p.m.