Anthony Scaramucci—the financier best known for briefly serving as the White House Director of Communications under former Republican President Donald Trump—had social media users rolling after he mocked Prime Minister Liz Truss of Britain, who announced her intention to resign after just six weeks in office.
Scaramucci himself held office for just eleven days, fired by Trump on the recommendation of then-White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who did not think Scaramucci was disciplined or credible enough for the position.
Given these facts, it must have stung when Scaramucci published a tweet observing that Truss's tenure had "lasted 4.1 Scaramuccis."
\u201cLiz Truss lasted 4.1 Scaramuccis\u201d— Anthony Scaramucci (@Anthony Scaramucci) 1666270105
Truss took office amid an ongoing cost of living crisis and an energy supply crisis following the ouster of Boris Johnson, whose own administration had been riddled with scandal. In response, her government implemented an Energy Price Guarantee limiting energy prices for households, businesses and public sector organizations.
She thereafter announced large-scale borrowing and various tax cuts in a mini-budget, which was poorly received and largely reversed, culminating in the removal of Kwasi Kwarteng as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Additionally, several members of her Cabinet—particularly the now ex-Home Secretary Suella Braverman—expressed doubts about her capacity to lead.
Political tensions proved insurmountable, in fact, and the short length of her premiership was the subject of much ridicule, including a livestream of a head of lettuce comparing the shelf-life of the vegetable to her remaining tenure.
Scaramucci went on to mention the head of lettuce in another tweet in which he noted that his own tenure hadn't even outlasted the shelf life of a carton of milk.
\u201c1 Scaramucci = carton of milk \n1 Truss = head of lettuce\u201d— Anthony Scaramucci (@Anthony Scaramucci) 1666270942
Scaramucci's short time in the Trump administration has made his name synonymous with jokes about political longevity, and it is evident that he still has a sense of humor despite his very public and embarrassing ouster.
Social media users couldn't get enough of his new units of longevity measurement and joined in on the fun.
\u201cCurrent Exchange Rates:\n\n1.12 Pounds Sterling = 1 US Dollar\n1 Liz Truss = 4 Scaramuccis\u201d— Dr. Jack Brown \ud83c\udf0a (@Dr. Jack Brown \ud83c\udf0a) 1666298970
\u201cLiz Truss in her salad days...\n\nLasted 4 scaramuccis, then said, "Lettuce alone! We're outa here!"\u201d— Harry Turtledove (@Harry Turtledove) 1666290370
\u201c\u201cLiz Truss lasted 4.4 Scaramuccis\u201d is a phrase I wish I did not understand\u201d— Connor Daley (@Connor Daley) 1666285122
\u201cI predict people will be continuing to tweet and think their tweet about Liz Truss lasting 4 Scaramuccis is totally original for at least 3/4ths of a Scaramucci.\u201d— Rocky Mountain Mike (@Rocky Mountain Mike) 1666282531
\u201cOn the one hand, Liz Truss didn't even last one Quibi, but she did make four Scaramuccis, so that's something.\u201d— Christian Armo (The Giant) Gila Monster (@Christian Armo (The Giant) Gila Monster) 1666280422
\u201cLong live, Liz Truss.\n\nShe lasted 4 Scaramuccis.\n\nOr 1/1100 of a football stadium # days.\u201d— Berk Sarioz (@Berk Sarioz) 1666303325
\u201cLiz Truss's time in office:\n4.4 Scaramuccis\n2.2 Pootses\n1 Brian Clough at Leeds\n0.6567 Sam Alladyces at England\n0.5641 Big Shows\nJust over a \u2153 of a George Canning, the previous record holder for the Prime Minister with the shortest term in office.\u201d— Peter Donaghy (@Peter Donaghy) 1666270948
\u201cUK PM Liz Truss resigns after ~4 Scaramuccis\u201d— r/wallstreetbets (@r/wallstreetbets) 1666290378
\u201cLiz Truss lasted for 4 Scaramuccis, or approx. 1.5 William Henry Harrisons\u201d— not wint (@not wint) 1666284980
Truss's resignation—while forecasted—comes as the United Kingdom continues to reel from the death of Queen Elizabeth II last month at the age of 96. The Queen was Britain's longest reigning monarch.
Coincidentally, her reign ended during the tenure of Britain's shortest-serving Prime Minister.
In announcing her resignation, Truss said she could not "deliver the mandate" on which she was elected "given the situation." Her resignation will become effective upon its acceptance from King Charles III. Truss indicated that the Conservative Party should choose a successor by next week.
