Trump defends Scaramucci for delayed endorsement

President Trump defended incoming White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci in a tweet early Saturday, claiming that Scaramucci didn’t endorse him during the GOP primary because he didn’t know Trump was running.

Scaramucci’s hire on Friday was immediately followed by reports of his past criticism of Trump, something his new boss appeared to downplay in the tweet.

“In all fairness to Anthony Scaramucci, he wanted to endorse me 1st, before the Republican Primaries started, but didn’t think I was running!” Trump tweeted from his personal account.

In all fairness to Anthony Scaramucci, he wanted to endorse me 1st, before the Republican Primaries started, but didn’t think I was running!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2017

Scaramucci first worked for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, then former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in the 2016 Republican primaries before joining Trump’s campaign in February.

On Friday, Trump hired Scaramucci to succeed Mike Dubke as White House communications director. The move was immediately followed by the resignation of White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who resigned Friday morning and will be replaced by deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

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After the move was made public Friday, Scaramucci turned to Twitter and began a purge of his past tweets attacking the president and supporting traditionally liberal causes such as gun control.

One of the deleted tweets referred to the Trump campaign as a “spectacle.” Another praised Trump’s eventual challenger, Hillary Clinton, as an “incredibly competent” person.

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

— JR CASTILLO (@jayrcastillo24) July 21, 2017

During his first remarks at a White House press briefing on Friday, Scaramucci apologized for his past remarks attacking Trump, who he said “never” lets Scaramucci forget his old remarks or his nonendorsement of Trump during the primary.

“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.