President Donald Trump isn't really a nationalist ― he's just saying he is to make people upset, and he should stop doing that, former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci said Wednesday.
"He's saying he's a nationalist because he wants you to be upset about it, but he's really not a nationalist," said Scaramucci, while plugging his new book "Trump, the Blue Collar President" on CNN's "New Day."
"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."
However, he said he understands that Trump wants to put American working-class families first, and he's conflating the word "nationalism" to show those principles.
"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, while addressing his former boss directly.
Scaramucci also called on Trump to quit telling lies, as he doesn't need to do that to further his goals. He also painted Trump's comments as being the words of a "scoundrel," but at the same time, commented that "nobody should lie."
"I'm not a big believer in lying, but politicians happen to lie," said Scaramucci, before looking into a camera to address Trump.
"You know, you're a politician now, so politicians lie when their lips are moving, and so all these people lie. But you should probably dial down the lying because you don't need to. You're doing a great job for the country. So dial that down, and you'll be doing a lot better."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.