New White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci on Friday denied reports that his appointment was a further signal of turmoil within the administration and assured reporters that President Donald Trump would continue using social media to reach the American people.
"The best messenger, the best media person, the most-savvy person in the White House is the president of the United States," Scaramucci said at his first daily briefing.
"He's a very effective communicator. He will use social media.
"It's been very effective use of reaching the American public directly," Scaramucci said. "I welcome him continuing to do that.
"It's a very, very important for him to express his identity.
"That is the most effective strategy for him to get his message out to the American people and to the global community," he said. "It will be as much or as little as he wants it to be."
In a surprise shake-up of the White House press operation, Trump on Friday named Scaramucci communications director — prompting Sean Spicer to resign — and the new chief immediately said that deputy Sarah Huckabee Sanders would become press secretary.
Scaramucci, 53, a campaign fundraiser for Trump and regular adviser during the presidential transition, had been mentioned for multiple jobs in the administration, most recently as ambassador to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
He also had been considered as head of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
In a statement read by Sanders, Trump thanked Spicer for his service and said that he would remain on staff through August to assist in the transition.
"I am grateful for Sean's work on behalf of the administration and the American people," she read. "I wish him continued success as he moves on to other opportunities.
"Just look at his great television ratings."
In another statement, Trump called Scaramucci "a person I have great respect for, and he will be an important addition to this administration.
"He's been a great supporter and will now help implement key aspects to our agenda while leading the communication team," Sanders read. "We have accomplished so much and we are being given credit for so little."
Here is Spicer's tweet:
Once taking the podium, Scaramucci immediately praised Sanders and Spicer and moved to quash speculation that he and Chief of Staff Reince Priebus were at odds.
"Sarah Huckabee Sanders is going to be the press secretary," he said. "Congratulations to her.
"I would love to have Sean here," Scaramucci later said. "Sean decided that he thought it would be better to go.
"For me, as it relates to Sean, who is as a team player, his attitude is that: 'Anthony is coming in. Let me clear the slate for Anthony.'
"I do appreciate that about Sean and I love him for it.
"I don't have any friction with Sean. I don't have any friction with Reince Priebus," he said. "We are serving the president.
"I want to make sure our cultural template is that we put the president's agenda first, which is perfect for the American people.
"We might have a little bit of friction inside the White House as a result of that. It's OK. We can all live with that.
"I'm a business person and used to dealing with friction."
But he beat back questions suggesting that the change reflected further turmoil in the White House.
"I take slight issue with the question, because I think the White House is on track and we are doing a really good job," Scaramucci said.
"I think we are doing an amazing job. The president himself is always going to be the president within the Oval Office."
He also dismissed reports that senior strategist Steve Bannon, along with Priebus, objected to his being named communications director, calling him "one of the smartest people I know."
"He was instrumental in helping us win the election. He's got a strong personality, I have a strong personality.
"I want to work as closely as I can," Scaramucci said. "I have a huge enormous amount of respect for him."
During the campaign, Scaramucci supported Republicans Scott Walker and Jeb Bush — and he slammed Trump on Fox Business as "a hack politician," charging that his attacks on hedge-fund managers were "anti-American."
He said Friday that was "one of the biggest mistakes I made when I was an inexperienced person in the world of politics.
"I was supporting the other candidate. I should have never said that about him.
"I've apologized for the 50th time for saying that.
"Here's a wonderful thing about the news media: You've never forgotten it. He's never forgotten it.
"I hope at some date, Mr. President, you will forget it."
Turning to various issues engulfing the administration, Scaramucci declined to answer questions about the Russia investigation — including reports that Trump's lawyers were working to stall the probe by special counsel Robert Mueller.
He added that he would "do more research" on the president's accusation that 3 million people voted illegally in the November election.
"My guess is there's probably some level of truth on that," he said.
Scaramucci also said that he also would discuss with Trump whether on-camera press briefings would return and when the president might hold a news conference.
"I obviously am committed to being transparent because I am standing here, but I would like to talk it over with the president," he said of the daily sessions.
"I will talk to them about it. Absolutely," he added, regarding the pressers.
"The president is phenomenal with the press. He's a great communicator."
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