Scaramucci to CNN: Trump is saying he’s a nationalist ‘because he wants you to be upset about it’
Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci on Wednesday said President Trump isn’t a nationalist and only claims to be one to “upset” people.
“He’s not a nationalist. He’s saying he’s a nationalist because he wants you to be upset about it, but he’s really not a nationalist,” Scaramucci said on CNN’s “New Day.”
{mosads}”If you really understand the historical word ‘nationalism’ and you understand what it really means over the last 150 years … it’s just ridiculous. He’s not a nationalist,” Scaramucci added.
Pres. Trump called himself a nationalist.@JohnBerman: “Anthony @Scaramucci, are you a nationalist?”
Scaramucci: “No, I’m not a nationalist. He’s not a nationalist. He’s saying he’s a nationalist because he wants you to be upset about it, but he’s really not a nationalist.” pic.twitter.com/qCziUyeUru
— New Day (@NewDay) October 24, 2018
Scaramucci also said that Trump will likely “double or triple down on it,” and called on Trump to stop calling himself a nationalist.
“I understand that he wants to put American working-class families first and he wants to put middle-class families first and so he’s conflating the word ‘nationalism’ for that and for those principles and policies, but if you really understand the historical context of what it means to call yourself a nationalist, you’re actually not a nationalist, so stop saying it,” Scaramucci said.
Trump during a rally on Monday declared himself a nationalist as he blasted Democrats and “globalists.”
“You know, they have a word. It sort of became old-fashioned. It’s called a ‘nationalist,’ ” Trump said during the rally in Texas. “And I say, ‘Really, we’re not supposed to use that word?’ You know what I am? I’m a nationalist. … Use that word.”
Trump on Tuesday doubled down on his comment, telling reporters that he doesn’t think the term has any racial undertones and saying he’s “proud” to use the term.
“It’s a word that hasn’t been used too much. People use it, but I’m very proud, I think it should be brought back,” he said.
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