White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Attacked Media, Flagrantly Lied About Inaugural Crowd Size

NY Times: “Spicer Scolded Reporters And Made A Series Of False Statements” About Trump’s Inaugural Crowd. On January 21, The New York Times reported that press secretary Sean Spicer used “false statements” to accuse the media of “deliberately misstat[ing]” the size of the crowds for the presidential inauguration “in an attempt to sow divisions” in the country. Despite Spicer’s “warning” to the press, Trump’s inaugural crowd was indeed “dwarfed” by the protests against him:

Later, at the White House, he dispatched Sean Spicer, the press secretary, to the briefing room in the West Wing, where Mr. Spicer scolded reporters and made a series of false statements.

He said news organizations had deliberately misstated the size of the crowd at Mr. Trump’s inauguration on Friday in an attempt to sow divisions at a time when Mr. Trump was trying to unify the country, warning that the new administration would hold them to account.

The statements from the new president and his spokesman came as hundreds of thousands of people protested against Mr. Trump, a crowd that appeared to dwarf the one that gathered the day before when he was sworn in. It was a striking display of invective and grievance at the dawn of a presidency, usually a time when the White House works to set a tone of national unity and to build confidence in a new leader. [The New York Times, 1/21/17]

Wash. Post’s Mark Berman: “Here’s The Blatant Falsehood @SeanSpicer Just Said, And Here’s A Splitscreen Showing Attendance In 2009 Vs. 2017.”

Here's the blatant falsehood @seanspicer just said, and here's a splitscreen showing attendance in 2009 vs. 2017 pic.twitter.com/ySnmhfpS1N

— Mark Berman (@markberman) January 21, 2017

[Twitter, 1/21/17]

Wash. Post’s Dave Weigel: Spicer Is “A Liar, And Not A Very Good One.”

This was a reason why I've usually avoided getting comments from Spicer. He's a liar, and not a very good one. https://t.co/rgoMG3DLQk

— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) January 22, 2017

[Twitter, 1/22/17]

Spicer’s Abysmal Performance Spawned A Meme About Dubious Facts

Wash. Post: Spicer’s Blatant Falsehoods Inspired The Meme #SeanSpicerSays. After Spicer “espoused a few easily disproved facts during his first news conference,” the internet birthed the hashtags #SeanSpicerSays and #SeanSpicerFacts to make fun of blatant, obvious lies:

Angered by the media's portrayal of inauguration crowds, President Trump's new press secretary, Sean Spicer, espoused a few easily disproved facts during his first news conference — eliciting groans from critics wary of four years of what Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway referred to as “alternative facts."

But a few brave souls chose to go high on social media and look at the positive aspects of living in Spicer's world. How wonderful would it be to use #AlternativeFacts in our everyday lives. It could be the best news since “post-truth" became an official phrase last year.

And just like that, #SeanSpicerSays and #SeanSpicerFacts were born.

[...]

And The Post's Fact Checker gave Spicer Four Pinocchios, adding “we wish we could give five," after examining his other statements.

After his remarks on Saturday, Spicer refused to take questions and strode off the stage, apparently unaware that he had just become a meme.

“The rebels didn't blow up the Death Star. Period. ” #SeanSpicerSays pic.twitter.com/TKN4ZLmRIk

— Kwam The Copywriter (@KwamWrites) January 22, 2017

Regarding the dishonest media, to quote Melania Trump, “When they go low, we go high.” Period #SeanSpicerFacts pic.twitter.com/MsZnEyPfom

— Sean Spicer Facts (@SeanSpicerFacts) January 22, 2017

This is gold. Keep it up! @POTUS #SeanSpicerSays href="https://t.co/12QJJov1BQ">pic.twitter.com/12QJJov1BQ

— Jamie Todd Foreman (@Jamie_Foreman) January 22, 2017

[The Washington Post, 1/22/17]

Before Spicer’s Embarrassing Performance, Numerous Media Figures Lauded His Appointment As A “Straight Shooter” And “A Sign” Of “More Access” For The Media

US News: Spicer As Press Secretary “Is A Sign” Trump Will “Likely Adhere To Some Of The Traditions And Norms Of White House Coverage.” On December 22, US News & World Report heralded Spicer’s selection as press secretary as “a sign the incoming administration is likely to adhere to some of the traditions and norms of White House coverage,” before detailing claims of “the Trump team’s transparency” that Spicer made to CNN:

For a press corps nervous about Trump's often combative relationship with the media, Spicer is a sign the incoming administration is likely to adhere to some of the traditions and norms of White House coverage.

[...]

Last Wednesday, Spicer highlighted what he said is the Trump team's transparency to CNN.

“What we've seen in government for so often is that people have been shady – about their roles, hiding things, not releasing things,” Spicer said. “We have a camera for goodness' sake. Every single person who enters Trump Tower, you get to see them go up, go down, they talk to the press.” [US News & World Report, 12/22/16]

MSNBC’s Hugh Hewitt: “Congrats @SeanSpicer A Straight Shooter Back In The White House Press Room.”

Well @LarryOConnor got something right. Congrats @seanspicer A straight shooter back in the White House press room https://t.co/AifxNfAbNW

— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) December 22, 2016

[Twitter, 12/22/16]

MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace: Spicer “Has Always Taken Time To … Seek Out Feedback And Dialogue.”

Sending congrats to @seanspicer who has always taken time to get to know folks in the media and seek out feedback and dialogue. Good luck!

— Nicolle Wallace (@NicolleDWallace) December 22, 2016

CBS’ Garrett Haake: Spicer Is “Generally In Favor Of More Access” For The Press. Garrett Haake, anchor for WUSA9, CBS’ local D.C. affiliate, said Spicer “has a good relationship with most people in the Washington press corps” and that his position as press secretary “suggests that the Trump White House may not be as closed off from press, and therefore public scrutiny, as some people had worried about”:

GARRETT HAAKE (HOST): He is a feisty guy, he’s very well-known around Washington. Sean Spicer has been the face of the RNC for the last several years. He’s now going to be the face of the Trump administration. He is known for arguing with reporters, particularly in television interviews. He can push back very aggressively, but the thing that folks at home should know about Spicer and sort of why this matters is he’s someone who actually, despite all that fire, has a good relationship with most people in the Washington press corps, and he’s someone who’s generally in favor of more access, of more talking, of more interviews, of more press. So I think his selection, especially as compared to some of the other people who were up for that job, suggests that the Trump White House may not be as closed off from press and therefore public scrutiny as some people had worried about. [WUSA9, 12/22/16]

Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs: “Sean Spicer Is A Communications Ace With Good Relationships With Reporters.”

Sean Spicer is a communications ace with good relationships with reporters--his part-time role with Team Trump will help them.

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) August 21, 2016

[Twitter, 8/21/16]

Townhall’s Katie Pavlich: “Spicer Is Capable Of Going Toe-To-Toe With The Press To Defend A Message While Also Respecting The Important Role Reporters Are Supposed To Play In Order To Hold Government Accountable.” [Townhall, 12/14/16]

LA Times: Spicer “Brought A Measure Of Establishment Washington To Trump’s Operation” And “Is Known For His Combative But Engaging Approach To Communications.” [Los Angeles Times, 12/22/16]

Fox News Contributor Richard Grenell: “@SeanSpicer Was Clear And Direct” In His January 11 Press Conference.

. @seanspicer was clear and direct.

— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) January 11, 2017

[Twitter, 1/11/17]

Fox’s Ed Henry: “I Expect @SeanSpicer Will Be Diplomatic & Have Open Door” For The Press.

.@LewisMusgrave do not think they have worked out any rules but i expect @seanspicer will be diplomatic & have open door

— Ed Henry (@edhenry) December 24, 2016

[Twitter, 12/24/16]

The Resurgent’s Erick Erickson: Spicer Is “Competent, Thorough” And “A Good Pick For Press Secretary.”

.@seanspicer is a good pick for press secretary. Competent, thorough, and a good guy.

— Erick Erickson (@EWErickson) December 22, 2016

[Twitter, 12/22/16]

Despite Widespread Criticism, Some Media Still Laud Spicer’s “Reboot”

Wash. Post’s Chris Cillizza: “Sean Handled A Very Difficult Situation With Aplomb Today.”

Totally agree. Sean handled a very difficult situation with aplomb today. https://t.co/BB1nps3wJm

— Chris Cillizza (@TheFix) January 23, 2017

[Twitter, 1/23/17]



Wash. Post’s Karen Tumulty: Spicer’s “Doing A Solid, Professional Job. #Reboot”

.@PressSec doing a solid, professional job. #reboot

— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) January 23, 2017

[Twitter, 1/23/17]

Reuters’ Emily Flitter: Spicer “Is Back In @DanaPerino Territory As Opposed To Baghdad Bob Territory.”

I've been watching @PressSec's WH presser today. He's back in @DanaPerino territory as opposed to Baghdad Bob territory.

— Emily Flitter (@FlitterOnFraud) January 23, 2017

[Twitter, 1/23/17]

CNN’s David Axelrod: “Much Different Tone And Approach From @PressSec Today. And More Effective.”

Much different tone and approach from @PressSec today. And more effective.

— David Axelrod (@davidaxelrod) January 23, 2017

[Twitter, 1/23/17]

NBC’s Andrea Mitchell: “Spicer’s “Reboot” Was “Substantive” And “Responsive.” NBC’s Andrea Mitchell praised Spicer’s “substantive,” “responsive” “do-over,” crediting him for taking “lots of questions” and saying “he intended to tell the truth, which is an important line to draw.” From the January 23 edition of MNSBC’s MSNBC Live:

ANDREA MITCHELL: First of all, [Sean Spicer] came out with a joke, with a light-hearted reference to the fact that [former White House press secretary] Josh Earnest would still be the most popular, that his record of popularity would stand. He messaged him last night. He attempted to fix -- I think it was a reboot, it was a chance to start over, frankly, a do-over. And it was substantive. It was responsive. He took lots of questions. He said that he intended to tell the truth, which is an important line to draw. Saying they may occasionally come out in haste and answer things incorrectly and have to fix it, but that he is dedicated to telling the truth. And that was an important question that had been raised by his performance on Saturday and, of course, by what Kellyanne Conway said to Chuck Todd on Meet the Press when she talked about alternative facts. [MSNBC, MSNBC Live, 1/23/17]

Wash. Post’s Philip Rucker: “Spicer Has Taken Tons Of Qs, Moved Fast W/ Informative Answers On Policies & Been Up Front When He Doesn’t Know”

In marathon first briefing, Spicer has taken tons of Qs, moved fast w/ informative answers on policies & been up front when he doesn't know.

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) January 23, 2017

[Twitter, 1/23/17]

CSPAN’s Jeremy Art: “By My Count This Is [The] Longest First Briefing [By] A WH Press Secretary In Each Of Past Two Administrations.”

Spicer briefing lasted 79 minutes. By my count this is longest first briefing be a WH Press Secretary in each of past two administrations.

— Jeremy Art (@cspanJeremy) January 23, 2017

[Twitter, 1/23/17]