8 Things To Know About Once And (Maybe) Future Trump Aide Sam Nunberg
Image by youtube
By Dave Goldiner and Jeffrey BoxerMarch 6, 2018
‘Go to the mattresses,” a line from “The Godfather” about turning to mercenaries during times of war, has reportedly become a favorite refrain for those close to Donald Trump.
In that vein, the president, reeling from an escalating Russia investigation that has roped in some of his closest advisers, is considering bringing back several campaign aides. According to The Washington Post, one of the former Trump players “being courted to play [a] more active role” is Sam Nunberg.
Here are five facts to know about the New York native:
1) He had a daylong meltdown on national TV.
Nunberg appeared on more than a half-dozen news shows March 5 spinning various (sometimes contradictory) versions of his claim that he would defy a subpoena from Russia probe special counsel Robert Mueller. After insisting he was ready to go to jail, he conceded that he had no good reason for not complying with the order — and might comply.
Lawyers said he has little choice but to cooperate — noting that he would almost certainly face contempt charges if he doesn’t.
2) Nunberg’s bizarro day sparked an unlikely debate on journalistic ethics.
By the end of his roller-coaster ride, Nunberg was facing questions about his sobriety — and journalists were asking if the media was complicit in his apparent mental health issues by giving him a self-destructive platform. Erin Burnett asked Nunberg point blank if he had been drinking after saying on live television that she smelled booze on his breath.
He denied drinking but admitted talking prescription medication. “Is that OK?” he asked.
3) He went to Ramaz.
The 37-year-old attended the elite Manhattan Modern Orthodox school. He later attended McGill University and worked on Republican campaigns.
4) He was one of Trump’s first political consultants.
Nunberg assisted the real estate magnate during his 2011 speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference, a large annual gathering of right-wing activists. As CNN put it, the speech “marked the start of Trump’s serious and aggressive foray” into Republican politics.
5) Trump has already hired and fired him… three separate times.
Nunberg and Trump have what could generously be described as an on-again, off-again relationship. The first time Trump fired Nunberg, it was over an unfavorable BuzzFeed profile.
6) The last time Nunberg was fired, it was for a series of racist Facebook posts.
In one of them, he referred to Rev. Al Sharpton’s daughter as a “N- – -.” Nunberg has since apologized to Sharpton.
7) Trump sued Nunberg for $10 million.
The GOP candidate alleged that his ex-staffer breached a confidentiality agreement. The lawsuit was “amicably” settled.
8) Since then, Nunberg has earned a reputation as a “reporter whisperer.”
Nunberg’s full-time job seems to be talking to the press about Trump. In May alone, his name has popped up in articles by The Washington Post, Politico, HuffPost, The Hill, NY Magazine, GQ and more, usually helping to explain Trump’s thoughts or work process.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
