Anthony Scaramucci, the SkyBridge Capital founder who briefly served as Trump's communications director, thinks the midterm elections have changed the mood in Washington. In a post on X on Saturday, he argued that Democrats now have more power to challenge President Donald Trump and limit his administration's actions.

"Trump is definitely less dangerous now. The whole mood in Washington has changed. There are more checks on him," Scaramucci wrote.

He has a point, at least structurally. Democrats are set to control federal spending and congressional investigations when the new Congress convenes in January, giving them more leverage to slow Trump's agenda. That's the kind of thing that tends to get a president's attention.

But Scaramucci cautioned against underestimating the president. In his view, financial interests remain Trump's biggest motivation.

"He wants money more than anything else," he wrote, claiming Trump "has made more money being president than at any point in his entire career."

Scaramucci further alleged that Trump would focus on negotiating with Democrats to protect the financial gains he believes the president secured for himself and his family.

"He'll be focused on what he needs to do with the Democrats, to ensure that the money grab he just completed for himself and his family stays in his pocket," he wrote.

"That's what drives every move from here," Scaramucci added.

Trump Faced Policy and Personnel Challenges After Midterms

The political backdrop is certainly busy. Last week, the White House pledged to continue Trump's tariff campaign despite Republican midterm losses, while former adviser Gary Cohn warned that tariffs raised costs for American consumers.

Earlier this month, Trump signaled Cabinet changes following the elections, with Susie Wiles set to depart as chief of staff and Stephen Miller expected to replace her. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon also left the Justice Department.

Meanwhile, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) said JD Vance and other Republicans were distancing themselves from Trump, warning that continued support for his agenda could hurt their political futures in 2028.

So yes, the checks are real. But Scaramucci's read is that the checkbook matters more. Whether that's a warning or just a prediction, he's not leaving much room for interpretation.