Washington, July 26 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly-appointed communications director, Anthony Scaramucci, has threatened to “fire everybody” in the administration if that is what it takes to stop leaks from inside the White House. 

“I’m going to fire everybody, that’s how I’m going to do it,” Scaramucci said to reporters outside of the White House on Tuesday.  “You’re either going to stop leaking or you’re going to be fired.” 

The financier and longtime Trump surrogate is seeking to shake up a press operation seen as loyal to Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, according to Politico.  Scaramucci had confirmed earlier that he was about to start by firing assistant press secretary Michael Short at a morning meeting, but the measure was apparently postponed. 

Short later resigned, saying he had not been informed of any such decision.  Scaramucci told reporters that Short’s hearing of the news through media “upsets” him. 

“This is the problem with the leaking,” he said.  “This is actually a terrible thing.  Let’s say I’m firing Michael Short today.  The fact that you guys know about it before he does really upsets me as a human being and as a Roman Catholic.” 

The new communications director has confirmed that Short’s dismissal is the first of many.  “I’m committed to taking the comms shop down to Sarah [Huckabee Sanders] and me, if I can’t get the leaks to stop,” he said.  Huckabee Sanders replaced replaced Sean Spicer as the White House press secretary.