White House's Scaramucci a fan of investing in Cuba

MIAMI, Fla. - New White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci spoke openly just a year ago of his commitment to U.S. investment in Cuba.

In an interview he gave shortly after President Barack Obama's visit to the communist-run island in May last year, Scaramucci told OnCuba magazine that he was "especially interested" in projects "to improve infrastructure, investments in agriculture and technology" in Cuba, and described closer economic integration between Cuba and the U.S. as the "most exciting" event of 2016.

"This is going to be something big and powerful for the two countries. And we want to be a part of it," he told OnCuba, a Havana-based publication run by Cuban-American businessman Hugo Cancio.

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Last month Trump announced a partial rollback of efforts to normalize relations with Cuba, in large part due to the negative response to the easing of sanctions against Cuba undertaken by Obama. Trump announced a series of measures to ban business with companies linked to the Cuban military, which controls a large share of the island's economy, as well as limiting travel by Americans to the island.

As White House communications director, Scaramucci will now be in charge of delivering the president's message, including Trump's Cuba policy, which appears to differ from his own.

Favored closer ties

The investment company that Scaramucci founded, SkyBridge Capital, last year included discussion of Cuba in a panel for an annual SALT conference it organizes to bring together business and government leaders.

“I think the situation is oversimplified to one country being capitalist and the Cuban system originating from communism, and as a consequence, there’s an embargo," the businessman said. "However I think that many Americans would like to get in touch with Cuba and its culture."

In addition, he was in favor of creating an investment fund in Cuba. "We are eager to exchange with ... Cuba ... about the best ways in which we can contribute to the development of the country, the services and the quality of life of citizens," he said.

In the article, Scaramucci compares Cuba with China and Vietnam as examples of countries seeking to integrate themselves into the free world market system while preserving their socialist ideas. "I see even more opportunities for Cuba, given that the country is in the Western hemisphere, close the United States, and because of the cultural ties that both countries share ... I think a very easy and powerful connection can be established between both communities."

Scaramucci's words to OnCuba sounded closer to Obama's efforts to thaw relations with the island than the harsh anti-Castro rhetoric issued by Trump during his speech in Miami announcing the policy rewind.

Hopeful about Cuba's future

On the same day that the interview was published in OnCuba, Scaramucci shared it on Facebook, adding that he was very hopeful "for the future of Cuba."

His post received several negative reactions from readers who highlighted Cuba's highly restrictive labor laws and low salaries.

To be sure, Trump has also changed his discourse on Cuba in recent years. When he was not yet a candidate for the presidency he expressed lukewarm support for the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with Cuba and even criticized Washington's 50-year-old trade embargo against the island.

During the campaign, news surfaced that Trump had also explored golf projects in Cuba in the past.

Scaramucci made no reference to his Cuba comments after being appointed on Friday. However, he did announce that he was erasing his old tweets in an act of "transparency." His posts advocated, among other things, climate change action, gun control, gay marriage and Hillary Clinton.

Cancio, the founder of OnCuba, was invited to the SALT conference in 2016. He told the Miami Herald newspaper that Scaramucci's appointment was gratifying. "Today I can sleep better knowing that there is a person close to Trump who can give the vision of someone who has had the experience of visiting Cuba," he said.

"I have always said that to talk and give an opinion about Cuba, you have to have touched Cuban soil and be in contact with all kinds of Cubans," he added. "Anthony has had that opportunity and I hope it can be a new, more calm and coherent voice on Cuba's past and present."