JADAR

Financier and broadcaster Anthony Scaramucci was ridiculed by the Left and Right alike after being fired as Trump’s White House Communications Director after just 10 or 11 days. Almost a decade later, he is setting the record straight in his blistering new book, All the Wrong Moves: How Three Catastrophic Decisions and Years of Sh*tshow Politics Led to Trump – and How We Find a Way Out. Scaramucci has just completed a UK tour promoting the book, which included a stop at Factory International in Manchester, where he was joined by comedian, impressionist, writer and presenter Matt Forde.

The talk was largely biographical. Scaramucci knew exactly why the audience was there. We wanted to know the ins and outs of his time on the Trump campaign and in the White House, as well as insider details about the inner workings of the Trump administration – and as the UK once again follows the US into darkness, to learn lessons from an ex-Trumper on how to get ahead of the curve. Scaramucci gave us all of that and more. Whilst the conversation was host-led, Scaramucci made sure to he found a way to hit all the right talking points, whilst Forde made sure Scaramucci stayed on point.

Unless the guest is as strategic and charming as Scaramucci, in conversations rest largely on the questioning of the host. Without naming names, I was sorely disappointed by the interviewer of a notable feminist I went to see in conversation last year. It all felt so soft ball and random, with only one (dull) question about the thing we really wanted to know about. Forde, fortunately, knew exactly what the audience wanted out of this conversation, and he possesses the skill, craft and charm to get what he wants out of his interviewees. He was already acquainted with Scaramucci, and thus their chemistry onstage was electric and full of friendly banter. We were even treated to Forde’s uncanny Trump impression.

Scaramucci not only built on the bare bones of the story we all already knew but also provided us with a different side to the story (What was it Kellyanne Conway said? Alternative Facts!). Scaramucci revealed that he was not actually fired for getting caught shit-talking people in the Trump administration but rather for embarrassing Trump for correcting him in front of others. Whilst he referred to joining the Trump campaign as “the stupidest thing I’ve ever done,” he did not quite detail how and why he stuck with Trump for another two years, but I suspect he goes into that in the book.

Scaramucci is one of very few Republicans who have broken with Trump, and one of even fewer who has worked against him and even endorsed Democratic candidates, including Joe Biden and Kamala Harris in the two most recent presidential elections. In an era of hyper partisanship, if not tribalism, Scaramucci stands out. He admitted to recently voting for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, explaining, “I’m Italian,” but not addressing that Cuomo, like Trump, has been accused of sexual assault – but he admitted that Zohran Mamdani is doing a wonderful job as NYC Mayor. He quoted Andrew’s father, and fellow governor, Mario: “You campaign in poetry, but you govern in prose,” referring to Mamdani’s perceived moderation in office.

Scaramucci successfully argued that decades of mistakes by both Republicans and Democrats paved the way for Trump’s rise, and he explain how the USA (and thus the UK) could chart a different course. He was not doing that “both sides” bullshit – he is a Republican who actively campaigns and votes for Democrats and not just as the “lesser evil” – but he offered a nuanced view of how the wider political establishment inadvertently set up the conditions for Trumpism.

Whilst the topics at hand were serious, and sometimes scary, the tone was kept light, and even inspiring at times. There were lots of comedic moments, with Forde’s background as a comedian and Scaramucci’s signature charm. Scaramucci does not take himself too seriously and embraces the self-deprecating humour that we Brits love. He predicts that we will see a female President in the next 20 years but is unsure which party she will belong to, as all three of the UK’s female Prime Ministers have been female, though Liz Truss lasted just “4.1 Scaramuccis” (and Elon Musk lasted “11.8”).

He referred to Sean Spicer, Trump’s White House Press Secretary, who quit upon Scaramucci’s appointment as his boss, as “Liar Spice.”

Forde and Scaramucci built a brilliant rapport, bouncing off of each other. Scaramucci referred to something as “general stupidity,” with Forde responding, “He was in the army,” before Scaramucci fired back, “Yeah, he’s Secretary of War now,” referring to Pete Hegseth. He then clarified that he will continue referring to the job as Secretary of Defence. Later, Matt jokingly referred to a corrupt person, possibly Trump, as “a low-level Nicola Surgeon,” with Scaramucci quipping, “or a high-level Nigel Farage.”

In the second act, Scaramucci took answers from the audience, and he answered every single one with real thought and care. Manchester is a very progressive city, though I suspect people in attendance ranged from centre-right to left-wing, but all of them serious, sensible, level-headed people who admire Scaramucci for acknowledging his mistakes and working to undo what he helped create – and also, as somebody in the audience asked very quickly, how we in the UK can stop ourselves from turning into the USA, what with the rise of racism, fascism, and Reform.

Whilst many in conversations and talks make use of multimedia, this was strictly a conversation and Q&A. With personalities as big and colourful as Scaramucci and Forde, there is no need to enhance the event with video footage or any gimmicks. They were just two individuals in the centre of an immense stage but they filled the entire auditorium with their presence. I’m gen Z; I get very easily distracted, even at big-budget musicals, but these guys kept me captivated throughout; I could have listened to them talk, wisely and humorously, for hours. This might just be the most interesting and engaging in conversation I have ever attended – though this might be beaten by President Barack Obama next month!

As is often the case, press and guests were all seated together, and I was lucky enough to be sat next to Abbie Bennington, who had interviewed Scaramucci for her podcast, Vintage Politics, in London earlier that day. I look very forward to watching them discuss important issues over good wine!

This tour was promoted by Intelligence Squared, a media company which has established itself as the leading forum for live, agenda-setting debates, talks and discussions around the world. Their aim is to promote a global conversation that enables people to make informed decisions about the issues that matter, in the company of the world’s greatest minds and orators, such as Brian Cox and Malala Yousafzai. Check out their listings, which currently include everyone from Bill Nighy to Elif Shafak. Though I’m not sure many people would consider Michael Gove and Jeremy Hunt to be some of “the world’s greatest minds and orators,” but I guess there is plenty to learn from them, if only what not to do, even if they, unlike Scaramucci, take no responsibility for their actions.

There are several anti-Trump Republicans, such as Liz Cheney and Marjorie Taylor Greene, who I do not like but I do respect. Scaramucci, however, is incredibly likeable, and he seems like a genuinely good human being who, despite his intelligence, got caught up in a dangerous movement but is now writing those wrongs – with that signature Scaramucci charm.