If he really isn't a Communist now, then he must be an ex-Communist. Those exist. I've known a few.
But if he were an ex-Communist, his main point would be how wrong he used to be and how Communism is the worst possible system.
No one is more anti-Communist than a sincere ex-Communist.
Substituting other nomenclatures for the word communist is a deception.
Deception defines communism.