Trump: The Blue-Collar President

by Anthony Scaramucci

Anthony "The Mooch" Scaramucci tells the inside story of how Donald J. Trump, a billionaire living on Fifth Avenue, identified the struggle of blue-collar Americans, and won the Presidency.

TRUMP, THE BLUE-COLLAR PRESIDENT is the comeback story for America and Americans. Both Wall Street and Main Street are now thriving and will continue to do so under our current president and his economic policies. Scaramucci shares his insights and stories from his long-term relationship with President Trump.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Biography

304 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 2018

About the author

Anthony Scaramucci is an American financier, entrepreneur and political figure. He is the founder and co-managing partner of SkyBridge Capital, a global alternative investments firm.
As part of the first generation of his family to attend college, Scaramucci graduated from the Tufts University and Harvard Law School before embarking on a successful career in the financial services industry. In November 2016, Scaramucci was named to President-Elect Trump’s Presdential Transition Team Executive Committee. In June 2017, he was named the Chief Strategy Officer of the Export-Import Bank. He served as the White House Communications Director for 11 days in July 2017.
In 2016, Scaramucci was ranked #85 in Worth Magazine’s Power 100: The Most Powerful People in Global Finance. In 2011, he received Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year-New York” Award in the Financial Services category. He is a member of the Committee on Foreign Relations (CFR).
Scaramucci was born and raised on Long Island, New York, where he still resides today.

Reviews

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because, though a Democrat, I do feel that Dems have ignored the blue collar demographic of this country and should feel some guilt about that. Also, despite Scaramucci's antics, I have seen him on talk shows and think that in some areas -- not his opinion of Trump, unfortunately! -- he makes sense. First of all, we need to understand why there is a population that sticks with Trump through thick and thin, despite some of his horrible behavior and words; and secondly, if we want to beat him, we need to understand what we -- yes, WE -- are doing wrong, and how we are going about beating him the wrong way. (This is a point that Scaramucci made repeatedly in flogging his book, while all reporters wanted to talk about was Trump's lies.) I also thought that in spite of the fact that we hold diametrically opposite views politically, especially about business, I would enjoy sitting down and having a debate with him over a cup of coffee and a beer. (He loves the Great Gatsby! He's read Thomas Mann! He is socially liberal!)

The book was helpful in some ways. Unlike some others, I enjoyed hearing about his blue collar childhood and young adulthood because it gave me some sense of what blue collar lives are like, and where they are coming from. I appreciated that he supported Obama the first time around, and gives him points for authenticity and quick wittedness. (When he cut Obama a generous check and handed it to him, he asked him, "Can I tell people we were friends at Harvard?" (they were in the same class at Harvard law school.) Obama looked at the check and said, "Double the amount, and we can take it all the way back to Hawaii.") I honestly felt his personal authenticity and basic decency. I enjoyed hearing about his time in the White House.

I did part ways with him completely and utterly in his perspective on needing to have more business-friendly administrations. He said he was disappointed by the fact that once Obama came into office, he supported the bill regulating banks etc (can't remember which Senators sponsored it, will come back and fill in later.) The idea that anybody, after the horrors of the financial meltdown, in which the banks played a huge part, would want more deregulation, just staggers me. (I am no knee-jerk leftist either, as my husband was in business for many years and understands this territory well.) Especially when Scaramucci claims that he wants the best for the lower middle class! Those were the people who were horribly hurt when the "too big to fail" banks had to be bailed out by all of us, including the blue collar workers! Furthermore, the gap between poor and rich has grown so large, with the wealthy being so astronomically wealthy, and the poor and lower middle class being so far behind, that the idea that anyone wouldn't want to do something to right the balance just has me scratching my head. I guess Scaramucci's idea is that if businesses do whatever they want, they will hire blue collar workers and that population will be helped? But that is such an old fashioned perspective as increasingly the true path to upward mobility is educating yourself in the tech world and understanding computers, as opposed to shoveling sand like Scaramucci's father or being a coal miner or an auto mechanic??

Another head scratcher was his insistence that at heart Trump is a really good guy, open-minded, unprejudiced, forgiving and generous. I just can't even comment or get my brain around this claim. He knows Trump and I don't, but Trump is on the record on so many topics from racial prejudice to infidelity to wife-beating that anybody telling me that doesn't represent the real Trump... (throw my hands up in the air.)

So, a very strange book. One thing is that I have made my husband promise that while it may be painful he should read the book and let me know if there is any basis for Scaramucci's perspective on not regulating business at all, as Scaramucci would like. (The job numbers just came out and they are excellent so maybe there is some basis, despite the rich-poor gap and the dangers to the environment that some of these pro-business policies create, for saying yes? Yikes, what a thought!)

Still would like to have a cup of coffee with him and have a discussion. Any time, Anthony.

[Reverenddave · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first third of a biography is generally terrible because no one cares about the inconsequential shit of the subject’s youth or really wants sketched bios of their parents and grandparents. That’s doubly true when the author is trying so hard to convey the Italian, Long Island-based version of the Andy Griffith Show necessary for him to label himself blue-collar. For the sake of the readers’ sanity I wish we could’ve just stipulated at the outset that at the very least the Mooch believes himself to be Italian, from Long Island, blue collar, and awesome, so that we wouldn’t have to endure him strenuously repeat these ‘facts’ ad nauseum.

Continued: https://trumpreviewed.wordpress.com/2...

[Melsene G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun and interesting read. I was laughing from page 1 and couldn't put it down. The book resonated with me because I grew up on Long Island and had similar experiences as the author, so it was fun to revisit certain events.

As for the story of what happened to the author and his 11 days in the White House, some of it was in the media, but here you'll get the author's side of the story, which always varies from the media version. I knew little of Mr. Scaramucci except for what I saw and read about him in the media. He's from an Italian working class family and made his way up the ladder going to Ivy league schools and working at Goldman Sachs. He's a very wealthy man and knew Mr. Trump for 2 decades. They traveled in the same circles, something which is alien to the rest of us.

Anyway, what I learned was that some of Trump's chief advisors sabotaged the author and then some. Leaks came from the inner circle and it was ugly. This is politics for you. Money and power, and influence is where it's at. I guess Mr. Scaramucci wrote the book to set the recored straight and to offer an apology to his loved ones. He goes back and forth from his life to Mr. Trump's ongoings.

It's humorous and informative. You can knock it out in a few sittings. Grazie!

[Ricardo Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was a quick and entertaining read. The author tells the story of two men, Anthony Scaramucci and Donald Trump, whose lives will intersect in the middle of the book and then continue on to the White House. He writes about his family's struggles growing up as his parents provided for his family. His successes with going to school, getting a law degree, passing the bar and enjoying a lucrative career are all described. Through it all, he is candid about his faults and honest about his regrets. He provides unique insights into President Donald J. Trump and reflects on the historic 2016 campaign.

[Dann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite its title Trump: The Blue-Collar President is really the biography/memoir of Anthony Scaramucci, a Wall Street hedge fund manager who was White House communications director for a minute (eleven days actually). Scaramucci recounts the history of his family, his early childhood growing up, his climb from newspaper boy to manager of his own Wall Street firm, and how he was eventually recruited by Donald Trump to be part of his 2016 presidential campaign and then part of his administration. And throughout he parallels his rise with Donald Trump’s, and sees their families as connected; as the Scaramuccis worked in the manufacturing plants that supplied the materials that the Trumps used to build the country. The writing style is quite personable and engaging, however Scaramucci (or the “Mooch” as he calls himself) has kind of a cocky attitude and an inflated image of himself and his scandal (which, who outside of Washington, DC knows about?). Despite the bait and switch, Trump: The Blue-Collar President is an entertaining memoir and provides and interesting behind-the-scenes view of the Trump presidential campaign and the early days of his administration.

[Michael Broadhurst]

An utter waste of a book. I would give it negative stars if I could.

[Barbara Nutting · Rating 1 out of 5]

Started this just to get a different perspective on Republican politics. Forget it, Scaramucci is just another brain-washed hanger on. More foul mouthed blather, this must be what FOX news must be like.

Unless you worship at the alter of the “Emperor who wears no clothes”, skip this book.

DNF

[Budd Margolis]

Scaramucci used this book to make Trump seem effective, reasonable and fails miserably and basically, makes his hero seem plausible to only the most die-hard believers, his cult followers. There are so many lies it's hard to pick a few to indicate what a load of rubbish this book represents? Scaramucci is an accomplished fund manager and he is a libertarian. He claims Trump has returned America to a strong leadership role? And in August 2019 he has proclaimed that Trump should not run in 2020. Note: Much of the world believes Trump is an ass**** and has taken America down the toilet. We as a nation have lost global respect and are seen as terribly weak and racist today because of DJT.

The distortion of history is just utterly Stalinist in its scope of deception. No recognition of the peace dividend of the Marshals Plan, just that the USA spends for other nations security. No mention of the tremendous economic turn around of the Obama administration he accepts that Trump deserves all the credit. No mention of the Obama drone campaign which eliminated many top terrorists but the big bomb on some tunnels in Afghanistan tunnels was a masterstroke? The Russian influence on our campaign is just a conspiracy theory?

Quote: “That technique in Obama’s hands was heralded as brilliant, but four years later when used in Mr Trump’s campaign, it was called suspicious and part of an international spy-ring plot.”
He was impressed with The Art of the Deal? Mooch also lies about Trump starting his empire from scratch not as we know the funds provided by his wealthy racist real estate mogul father. There are 10+ lies or errors, missing facts and distorted beliefs here. This is the insight as to the cult of Trump and fits the filter bubble where all the news is distorted to your beliefs but bears little in regard to sanity, logic or reality.

But useful none the less for revealing just how low we as a nation have sunk. And how racist & selfish, greedy and egotistical America actually is. This generation of fake it til you makes it cares less about the common good and fellow man and is all about individual power and wealth. It is the start of the end of the American empire.

To some, money is the American dream. It is power, it is fame and it is respect. What a pity so many slaves away just to make money without any thought about the quality of their lives or the quality of life in the USA? If fewer have the most then most have the least. To this end, Mooch has added nothing but his own greed and ego. He asks “Have you ever met a successful person who didn’t have an ego?” And my answer is yes, of course, and they were the finest people one would ever want to meet. Their success was based upon care and concern for more than themselves and they succeeded and are greatly admired. I pity Mooch for never having met such fine people. As for his book? I laughed, I suffered the many lies and at the end, I had to laugh. Its best use will be to start fires this coming winter. Money should have been donated to just about any cause but buying Greenland?
Mooch says “he’d learned from the crash of the early ’90s that it helps to have assets and revenue streams spread across the board. Never again would he put all his eggs in one basket.”
Really? Trump Steak, Vodka, University, Magazine, Mortgages, Casinos, Airline and a dozen more all failures? Not diversified? BS.
Trump's announcement to run was staged and actors were paid to attend but Mooch says: “They had given building workers Make America Great Again T-shirts and had them line the balcony so the place would look full. That was the first and last time the campaign would have to stack the deck.” Again, pure BS, a lie.
 Donald J. Trump was the only authentic candidate on television in 2015. He might have been the only truly authentic candidate in history.” So, Trump is the Messiah and is the only one capable of delivering the word of truth and policies of success?

Just some points Scaramucci does not seem to recognise:
The tax cut has benefited only the wealthy.
The Dow is for the super-rich and not a metric for the general economy
Stock markets grew more by percentage under Clinton and Obama than Trump
The Obama economy continues despite Trump's idiotic trade war which will harm American farmers for many years to come.
Iran is now developing its nuclear programme again.
No more nuclear anti-proliferation treaty with Russia
North Korea missiles tests and nuke programme continue
Racism and hate crimes in the USA are increasing as is mass shootings
Immigration has become a racist policy and Latin American children are separated from parents and suffer
We are more divided and less likely to be any better off let along great again?

Most of what riles the citizens of the nation are Trumps ill-considered and poorly communicated brain farts. Mooch would have you believe this is a brilliant communication strategy for the digital age and that every word is well sculpted and considered by the master of the media? This is New Yorker humour, not blustering arrogant bully racism. Really? I say BS.

You own what you have supported and it is undeniably a road to ruin and the morality is deplorable, unAmerican and in my opinion an act of treason. How else can they explain support for Russia when all intelligence agencies both American and our allies across the world agree that Russian is interfering and influencing election campaigns?

Trump has told 11,000+ lies and counting, he says one thing and obviously does the opposite yet this is a genius that is restoring America to greatness?

Another bold faced fib "Mr. Trump sold his yacht to the Boston bank for a $15 million profit."
Trump denied in press reports that the boat had been repossessed. He and his lawyer said at the time they sold it to the bank for $42 million, at a profit.

"I bought the boat in the high 20s. I sold the boat essentially for the mortgage that was on the boat. Forty to forty two million, that was the amount of the loan that was on the boat," The Donald told the Boston Herald in 1991 when they heard his boat repossessed by mortgage-holder Boston Safe Deposit & Trust Co.

It was repossessed. Not sold for a profit. From vanity Fair: The “VERY successful businessman” only paid income tax twice between 1985 and 1994—and lost more money than “nearly any other individual American taxpayer.” According to the Times report, which is based on printouts from Trump’s official Internal Revenue Service tax transcripts, rather than the actual tax returns themselves, the now-president lost $1.17 billion from 1985 to 1994—more money than “nearly any other individual American taxpayer.”

Scaramucci: "Remember, this is the guy who in his first few months eliminated ISIS."

AUG 8, 2019: Washington (CNN) ISIS is "re-surging" in Syria less than five months after President Donald Trump declared the terror group's caliphate there had been 100% defeated, according to a new Pentagon inspector general's report on the fight against ISIS.

Also, Russia is now more ingrained in Syria than ever before. Tensions with Iran have escalated with oil tankers attacks and hijacked crew and ships.

One reason people are fleeing Central America is the violence and the US manufacturers have shifted sales because of the downturn in USA gun sales. This has created obvious consequences especially when aid has also been reduced.

An excuse for racism? How do we tolerate this? "The presser after Charlottesville, for example. He knew that every reporter lined up at his press conference wanted him to give a stock phrase: I condemn white nationalism and neo-Nazis and all that they stand for. Had he said it, he would have felt like he was letting the media, who’d already been very unfair to him, write the narrative for him. His refusal to say what the media and the Left wanted him to didn’t mean he was siding with the neo-Nazis. He just wasn’t going to let anyone dictate his words.”

How can you morally say you abide by Catholic values and make excuses for Trump’s support of racism? Mooch helped elect the man, supports his policies but now calls for him not to run?

I find this age of American suicide to be the end of the American empire. We were not brought down by Russia or China, we just did not work hard enough to compete and replace factory jobs with new-age work. We are lazy, it all became too easy and the rich got much richer while 60% of America worries about bills and lives month to month. Trumps supporters will be hurt the worse, the suicide rate for white men will continue to climb and new stronger drugs will increase overdose deaths.

They live off hate and this book justifies it all.

[Sharon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although it was an interesting read, I expected more about Trump and less about Scaramucci. After all, Trump’s name is in the title and Scaramucci is the author. I learned a little about Trump and a whole lot about the author. Definitely not what I expected.

[Chris Kuczynski · Rating 1 out of 5]

A boastful and angry guy.

[Patrick · Rating 1 out of 5]

It would've been more fun if The Mooch's ghostwriter had written it like The Mooch talks.

[Charlene Mathe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good read; and one I would especially recommend for young people. Scaramucci is the subject and Donald Trump the sidebar in the book, but we get a good look at Trump through the lens of Scaramucci's twenty or so years interacting with and observing him. I recommend the book for young people because Scaramucci moves us through his world and his development with humor and lessons learned. His book is a window into New York City culture and Wall Street life. As many people have noted, Donald Trump is a product of this milieu, and much of his character and style is better understood in that context. I found Scaramucci's explanation of how America lost ground in the global economy very clear and useful. It is the starting point for understanding Donald Trump's economic policies. There is no doubt in my mind that Anthony Scaramucci is a brilliant guy, hard working and patriotic. I regret that he lost his appointment as head of the Office of Public Liaison, a position so aligned with his talents and experience. Here again, young people could benefit from reading how he took himself down, how he sucked it up, how he took responsibility and preserved his relationships with people. While the book does not provide an epilogue of his career recovery, it is a happy story. Scaramucci was able to return to his hedge fund and high-flyer networking where he continues to promote the Trump agenda, and uses his network to connect leadership from the Left and from the Right to work on common ground for the benefit of the economy and the nation.

[Besnik Avdiaj · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my opinion, Scaramucci has presented us an interesting side of one of the most popular topic of both politics and business in US and beyond - election of Donald J. Trump as the President of the United States.
On one hand, the "naive" (as he calls himself) businessman raised from a middle-class family successfully implies the importance of blue-collar class which has unfortunately been neglected from both democrats and republicans. He also emphasises that their needs should be raised and someone must represent them and work for them - President Trump did his best to use this aspect in his campaign and even work later for it from the position of President.
However, on the other hand, Moochi is very subjectiv on his evaluations and gives us "white&black" opinions with special focus on things related to Trump. Of course they are friends, but if the idea is to convince people about his humble personality, you should be more objective and not blind to his charm. At the end of the day, I would reccomend this book to readers from all disciplines, in order to create a reasonable opinion about this widely-discussed issue.

[Joel Cigan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Anthony “Mooch” Scaramucci rising to the ranks of communication’s director for Trump’s White House and his subsequent firing all the while still remaining loyal to his version of “Great Gatsby,” Donald Trump.

The first half of the book discusses his upbringing in a working-class Italian family from Long Island, his enrollment at Harvard Law School and his failing of the bar exam twice just like John F. “Hunk” Kennedy did.

He made tons of money as a hedge fund manager and investment banker becoming the poster boy for SkyBridge and SALT but I don’t feel he is the sharpest tool in the shed. He says he paid $4-$5 million in taxes each year.

This book, along with the one by James Comey, gives off flavors that there are deep mafia ties involved with Trump being elected POTUS and that seems logical.

This book was overall very pleasant to read but for content alone I give it 3/5 stars.

[Dilip Massand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having had the pleasure of meeting "The Mooch" a few times recently, and feeling a kindredness as he is from Long Island and I am from Queens, when gifted a copy of his book, I felt compelled to read it. I found it an entertaining and candid "mea culpa". The Mooch had to write his experience in the White House and how he got there out of his system. He also needed to pave the way for a public rehabilitation of his image, and his "second act". Whilst his admiration for President Trump comes out clearly in the book, some of the comments he made in the press over the past few months about the President's mental stability clearly contradict this sentiment. Perhaps the Mooch just cant help himself when he is speaking to reporters, but like all NY'ers, he speaks his mind, and I look forward to meeting him again and watching what's next.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anthony Scaramucci gained national fame when he became President Donald Trump's communications director for a record eleven days before he was fired. Despite their parting, Saramucci remains ever loyal to Trump, as evidenced by this book as well as his numerous media appearances on Trump's behalf. I personally am no fan of this president, but I did enjoy this book. Scaramucci has had an interesting life which he shares here, as well as some unique insights into the Trump campaign, transition and time in the White House. In this book Scaramucci is the same person you see on television so if you enjoy him there, you will also enjoy this book.

[Brenda Humphreys · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was very disappointed in this book. The title of the book is Trump, with Donald Trump’s picture on the cover. I would think most of the book would be about Trump. But no, 90% of the book is about Scaramucci. I don’t care about Anthony Scaramucci. I never heard of the author before and after reading the book, I don’t like him. He is arrogant and is not a blue-collar worker. Scaramucci writes throughout the book that he was a White House employee for ten days. He was just bad mouthing everyone. I read the book because I wanted to know more about Donald Trump. Little was said about Trump. The title is very misleading.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was well written and had lots of great anecdotes. I only gave it a 3 star rating because it would be better titled under a different name as it's more a story of the authors life with bits of Trump woven into it. It was easy to read because of the way it's written and does a good job of explaining how Trump was able to perfect his message that resonated with the everyman in America. And how he is really the only one paying attention to the forgotten middle class in this country that has been left behind after years of liberal policies implemented by both republicans and democrats in the white house and in congress.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining and informative book that I would recommend. This book provides details about what was really happening behind the scenes on Capitol Hill during the tumultuous times of the nascent administration. It also goes into detail about why the Trump administration and the media so often butt heads. The focus of the Book seemed to be more about telling Anthony Scaramucci’s rise to power (and fall) than about Trump’s story though. Albeit, this book does help provide better perspective about why Trump has resonated with so many blue-collar folks.

[Eric Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better than I thought it would be, I’m not at all a Trump supporter but found myself seated at a lunch next to the author and was impressed by what he said and how he said it, so thought I’d read the book. It provides a perspective with the credibility that only an insider can bring. These days more than ever, I think it’s critical for people to be open to hearing different points of view. This book did an effective and entertaining, if not deep, job of doing just that.

[Michael Dominick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an autographed copy of this book as a gift for Christmas and have been pleasantly surprised by it. Scaramucci is an accomplished example of the classic "rags to riches" story of the US; I am sure he'd prefer a comparison to Rocky though. That aside, I know this is a loaded topic but no matter what side of the aisle you are on, it's worth taking a read.

[Nancy Barton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I tried. I really wanted some insight as to why Pres. Trump is the way he is, why it is accepted by so many etc. All I got was info on Scaramucci. It was an easy read but I just couldn't continue past 100 pages.

[Liz Sergent · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, written by short term communications director Anthony Scaramucci. This book gave a behind the scenes of the Trump White House, (I didn't know that the press room was built over the swimming pool). This inside scoop of his 11 (not 10) inside the White house was riveting. Great read!

[Cathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Though the title of this book is Trump: The Blue-Collar President, it barely talks much about Trump let alone how he is the blue-collar president. This is more all about Scaramucci and how great he is. Someone has drank the kool-aid.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unexpectedly an interesting read though at times I feel his friendship with the president may have tainted his view on certain events. Interesting how parallel their lives are on their climb out of blue-collar roots to the stratosphere they now occupy on their fall from grace...Interesting read.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would hold more water and be more meaningful if we all did not know what happened to dear old Tony. He lost his focus and the Trump train just moved on without him and of course, then he turned sour. Maga!

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

Entertaining and fun to read! I love President Trump and loved hearing the “behind the sciences” stories.

[Patricia A. Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

Great book and a very informative viewpoint on the presidency. I enjoyed it very much from an insiders. Thanks. Awesome.

[Nicole Connot · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read, not disappointed in the purchase. I appreciated the sense of honesty I felt he presented throughout the book.

[Don Sideb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Too much Mooch

Interesting life story but more about author than Trump. Not what I was looking for. If I wanted the authors life story it would have fine.