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‘Wacky Omarosa’ Once a Trump Favorite — But No More

President attacks Omarosa Manigault Newman after she releases tapes

Omarosa Manigault Newman, the former director of communications for the White House Public Liaison Office, is on a media blitz promoting her book, which has drawn a Twitter rebuke from President Donald Trump. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images file photo)
Omarosa Manigault Newman, the former director of communications for the White House Public Liaison Office, is on a media blitz promoting her book, which has drawn a Twitter rebuke from President Donald Trump. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images file photo)

Omarosa Manigault Newman is the latest person to earn one of President Donald Trump’s infamous nicknames, as the president attacked his former adviser on Twitter Monday.

“Wacky Omarosa, who got fired 3 times on the Apprentice, now got fired for the last time. She never made it, never will,” Trump tweeted. “She begged me for a job, tears in her eyes, I said Ok. People in the White House hated her. She was vicious, but not smart.”

Trump’s attack comes after Manigault Newman — who is on a media tour promoting her book, “Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House” — released tapes related to her firing from the White House last year.

The former Apprentice contestant worked on Trump’s campaign and in the White House as assistant to the president and director of communications for the White House Office of Public Liaison.

Manigault Newman released a recording Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press,” of what she says is a December 12 conversation between her and White House Chief of Staff John Kelly in the White House Situation Room.

On the tape Kelly is heard firing Manigault Newman, citing “significant integrity issues related to you and use of government vehicles and some other issues.”

When she questions whether Trump is aware of what’s going on, Kelly responds, “The staff and everyone on the staff works for me, not the president. And so after your departure I’ll inform him if he gets interested on, on where you may be.”

And Monday on NBC News’ “TODAY” Manigault Newman provided audio of what she says is a phone call between her and Trump the day after Kelly fired her. Trump can be heard on the tape saying, “Omarosa, what’s going on? I just saw on the news that you’re thinking about leaving. What happened?”

Manigault Newman responded: “General Kelly came to me and said that you guys wanted me to leave.”

Trump said no one told him about the decision.

“You know they run a big operation, but I didn’t know it,” he said. “I didn’t know that. Goddamn it. I don’t love you leaving at all.”

It’s unclear what time of day that Dec. 13 phone call took place, but Trump tweeted that day just before 7 p.m. thanking Manigault Newman for her service. “I wish you continued success,” he said.

Trump’s Monday tweets did not refute the idea that he was unaware of Manigault Newman’s firing but seemed to defend the decision.

“I would rarely see her but heard really bad things,” the presidet said in two tweets. “Nasty to people & would constantly miss meetings & work. When Gen. Kelly came on board he told me she was a loser & nothing but problems. I told him to try working it out, if possible, because she only said GREAT things about me — until she got fired!”

Trump also only said great things about Manigault Newman until her public criticism of him. During their time on the Apprentice Trump frequently tweeted praise for her. 

Over the weekend White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders responded to Manigault Newman’s recording of Kelly firing her.

“The very idea a staff member would sneak a recording device into the White House Situation Room, shows a blatant disregard for our national security — and then to brag about it on national television further proves the lack of character and integrity of this disgruntled former White House employee,” she said in a statement.

Also Watch: Trump’s Tweets, Shutdown Threats Muddy the Waters Less Than 100 Days From Midterms

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