I believe Putin has something on Trump

Anthony Scaramucci spent just 11 days as White House communications director before his unceremonious sacking by the US president. Now a successful political podcaster, he reveals why his former boss is ultimately heading for 'disaster'

- By Andrew Papworth

YOU might think there would be no way back from being humiliatingly fired from your job after 11 days by Donald Trump in the full glare of the world's media. Yet Anthony Scaramucci's brutal dismissal as the US president's communications director before barely settling at his desk turned out not to be the end of his career, but a new beginning.

The former Goldman Sachs investment banker had been raising millions of dollars for the Republicans' 2016 election campaign behind the scenes when he was unexpectedly thrust into the limelight as President Trump's chief spin-doctor. Things very quickly went south when Scaramucci was exposed venting his fury at White House colleagues in a conversation he wrongly thought was off the record.

Trump quickly showed him the door in a tenure that makes even Liz Truss's brief spell as prime minister seem like an age- or, as the man himself self-depracatingly puts it, "4.1 Scaramuccis".

But even though the 61-year-old admits taking the job was a "huge mistake", he tells the Express that his abrupt sacking turned out to be "the best of the outcomes".

Since his ignominious exit from the White House, Scaramucci has turned on his former boss and become one of Trump's most outspoken critics.

His Rest is Politics US podcast, where he gives a colourful weekly take on American politics with fellow host and British-Swiss journalist Katty Kay, has quickly become one of the UK's most popular shows since its launch in April last year.

Reflecting on his 2017 dismissal today, Scaramucci says: "I've said repeatedly it was a huge mistake on my part to take that job." But he adds: "There was a silver lining to it. If I didn't take the job, I probably wouldn't have had the platform to speak out about events and some of the things he's doing.

"If I didn't take the job, I don't think my podcast would be doing as well. In fact, I don't think I would have been offered the opportunity to do a bunch of stuff.