Anthony Scaramucci, who served as Donald Trump's White House communications director for 11 days, has claimed the president looks like "an open can of Spam" without make-up.
Speaking to The Times, the financier turned political commentator said his mother, a make-up artist, hates Trump's cosmetics. He said: "She (his mother) hates Trump's make-up. It's like an orange bronzer he buys from a supply shop in the Bronx. He looks like an open can of Spam without make-up."
Bronzer applied morning and night
Scaramucci added: "He puts it on in the morning. Sometimes he reapplies it at night. It's a tanner. He thinks it looks fantastic, by the way."
Spam was introduced to America in 1937. The tinned meat quickly became popular and is notable for its distinctive light pink colour straight out of the can. It develops a golden-brown or reddish-brown hue when fried, grilled or baked.
Trump's explanation for orange skin
Rumours about Trump's skin tone have been swirling for decades. While most people believe he uses a bronzer, the president has previously blamed his colour on energy-efficient lightbulbs.
During a House Republican retreat dinner in 2019, Trump said: "People said 'what's with the light bulb?' I said here's the story, and I looked at it. The bulb that we're being forced to use - no.1, to me, most importantly, the light's no good. I always look orange."
Critics and comedians have handed him a series of derogatory nicknames, including 'Mango Mussolini' and 'Agent Orange'.
Scaramucci's time in the White House
Scaramucci was a long-time critic of Trump before he announced he was running for president back in 2015. During the following year's Republican Party presidential primaries, he endorsed first Scott Walker then Jeb Bush. But after both withdrew from the race, he joined Trump's campaign on his finance and then his transition team.
He was later named the White House communications director in July 2017, but his time in the role proved to be short-lived. Scaramucci gave what he believed was an off-the-record chat with The New Yorker, in which he attacked White House colleagues Reince Priebus and Steve Bannon. He was promptly fired by Chief of Staff John Kelly, with Trump's approval.
Scaramucci remained publicly loyal to Trump until the summer of 2019, after which he returned to being a vocal critic of the president. He backed Joe Biden in 2020 and Kamala Harris in 2024.
No one likes Trump, claims Scaramucci
During his interview with The Times, Scaramucci claimed that no one he has met likes Trump - and that includes any of his relatives. He said: "I have yet to find a person that really likes Trump. Including all of his family members. Nobody likes him."
He added that his wife Deidre is also not too keen on the president, saying: "My wife hates Trump almost as much as Melania. And if she was here, she would say more than Melania."
