WATCH: Twitter Mocks Combative Press Secretary for Claiming Muslim Ban ‘Not a Ban’ After Trump Repeatedly Called It a Ban
‘He’s Using the Word the Media Is Using’
A very combative White House press secretary Tuesday afternoon held an antagonistic briefing Tuesday afternoon, berating journalists working to get truth out of the administration.Â
One reporter asked to revisit Trump’s “travel ban,” and was interrupted by the White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, who insisted, “Well, first of all it’s not a travel ban,” Spicer said, misusing numbers of people entering the U.S. and the Obama administration’s vetting program as a shield for Trump’s ban.
White House press secretary today: “It’s not a travel ban… not a banâ€
President Trump yesterday called it a “ban†https://t.co/8Hz9SAofR3 pic.twitter.com/NyuEn8x8ry
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) January 31, 2017
Later, NBC News’Â Kristen Welker reminded Spicer that just yesterday President Trump posted a tweet calling the Muslim ban a “ban.”
Sean Spicer just now: When people use phrases like “travel ban,” they “misrepresent what it is.” President Trump yesterday: pic.twitter.com/VVfeE9DOm9
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 31, 2017
“He says it’s a ban,” Welker told Spicer.
“He’s using the words the media is using,” Spicer deflected.
Sean Spicer: A ban by any other name … pic.twitter.com/GkhNZAxzkS
— Jeffrey Guterman (@JeffreyGuterman) January 31, 2017
Of course, that’s not accurate – Trump is the one who for over a year has been calling it a ban.
“The president himself called it a ban,” Welker posited. “Are you confused or is he confused?”
“No, I’m not confused,” Spicer, agitated, responded.
Buzzfeed’s Dominic Holden points out Spicer himself just two days ago called it a “ban.”
Sean Spiceer today: “This is not a Muslim ban. It is not a travel ban.â€
Sean Spicer in White House press release, Jan. 29: pic.twitter.com/axTM1m66nM
— Dominic Holden (@dominicholden) January 31, 2017
Trump first called it a “shutdown” in December of 2015, announcing, “Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on.”
Here are several other times Trump has also called it a ban on Twitter:
What has happened in Orlando is just the beginning. Our leadership is weak and ineffective. I called it and asked for the ban. Must be tough
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 12, 2016
In my speech on protecting America I spoke about a temporary ban, which includes suspending immigration from nations tied to Islamic terror.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 13, 2016
For nearly the entire briefing Spicer was combative and antagonistic.
On Twitter, many mocked the press secretary:
WH Presser:
Spicer: “It’s not a ban.”
Reporter: “Trump calls it a ban.”
Spicer: “He was hypnotized by the media. Next question.”— Raising Kane (@eugene_kane) January 31, 2017
Spicer just now: “There is no ban”
Trump 3 days ago: “We’re going to have a very, very strict ban.”
— Jesse Lee (@JesseCharlesLee) January 31, 2017
I’m puzzled. Setting aside that Trump, Spicer previously referred to a “ban,” how is prohibiting Syrian refugees not a ban?
— Vaughn Sterling (@vplus) January 31, 2017
Spicer: “It can’t be a ban if you’re letting in hundreds of thousands of people.â€
Trump: It’s a ban.— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie) January 31, 2017
.@PressSec says travel ban is not a ban. But Trump called it a ban. So Spicer says “he’s using the word the media is using.” Hah.
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) January 31, 2017
NBC’s @kwelkernbc asks Spicer re Trump himself using the word “ban”. Spicer says POTUS just using language “derived from the media” WHAT!?
— Yashar (@yashar) January 31, 2017
Don’t believe a word that comes out of Spicer’s mouth.Unprecedented: @MSNBC headline reads “Immigration Order ‘Not a Ban’ despite Trump”
— Sevenfold747 (@Sevenfold747) January 31, 2017
Sean Spicer says it’s an alternative fact to refer to #ExtremeVetting as a #travelban, even though Trump, on Twitter, also called it a ban 🤔
— Siyabonga Sesant (@4everSiya) January 31, 2017
Trump calls it a “travel ban.” Spicer says it is not a ban.
Spicer calls it “extreme vetting.” Trump says it is not extreme.— Jesse Rodriguez (@JesseRodriguez) January 31, 2017
@NBCNightlyNews Spicer, you stated it as a ban. Stop flip flopping and own it. You guys screwed up. Trump is not capable to make decisions.
— Vera Gen (@Strugachik) January 31, 2017
Spicer: It’s not a ban.
Trump: It is a ban.
Spicer: Media made it about a ban https://t.co/jNd41r2Av3— Robert A George (@RobGeorge) January 31, 2017
Spicer: It’s not a ban. He’s using the words the media is using.
Trump in June: It’s a ban.
Every person alive: Of course it’s a ban. https://t.co/KQcWxzFLrJ— Mark Zohar (@markzohar) January 31, 2017
Trump: “We’re going to ban Muslims.”
Spicer: “It’s not a Muslim ban.”
Trump (yesterday): “The ban…”
Spicer (today): “It’s not a ban.”— Doug Sovern (@SovernNation) January 31, 2017
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