Spicer Again Lied in His Briefing
White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer lied on Saturday to reporters after hastily calling them in to a briefing and keeping them waiting for an hour before attacking them. On Monday, more than a half hour into his first official press conference, Spicer was asked what his intentions are about his job and relationship with the media.
“Is it your intention to always tell the truth from that podium, and will you pledge to never knowingly say something that is not factual?” ABC News Chief White House Correspondent John Karl asked Spicer.
“It is,” Spicer responded.Â
On Saturday, Spicer claimed that photographs were intentionally framed to make it appear President Trump had a smaller audience that President Obama during their inaugurations.Â
Spicer went on to lie, claiming “this was the first time that floor coverings were used” on the National Mall to protect the grounds, making it appear that less people attended. He also lied by claiming magnetometers were used, making it more difficult for “hundreds of thousands of people” to reach the National Mall.
He also gave false numbers on Washington, D.C. Metro ridership, suggesting more people were in transit to Trump’s inauguration than to Obama’s.
Spicer then said, “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration in person and around the globe.”
While that last statement may be true, it’s comparing apples to oranges, as in 2008 there were far fewer ways to “witness,” to watch the inauguration. Â
On Monday afternoon, Spicer retracted his claim about ridership, but stuck by his statement about overall numbers witnessing Trump’s inauguration around the globe.
Spicer later was challenged on his false claim that Trump was well-received when he visited the CIA on Saturday, telling reporters he received loud applause. Numerous outlets have reported that the response from CIA employees was uneasy and mixed, and that the applause was from people brought by the Trump administration.
For example, here’s what Talking Points Memo reported:
Invited guests of President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and CIA director nominee Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS) cheered and laughed at the President’s remarks at CIA headquarters on Saturday, according to a new report.
CBS News cited unnamed U.S. government sources who claimed that the first three rows in the audience at Trump’s speech were filled in part with supporters, including about 40 people who were invited by Trump, Pence and Pompeo.Â
CIA leadership in the front row did not cheer in response to Trump’s remarks, the report said.
And:
It wouldn’t be the first time Trump has filed formal audiences with enthusiastic allies. At his first press conference since winning the election earlier this month, observers were stunned to hear cheers and jeering coming from off-camera. Later, it was reported that dozens of members of Trump’s staff had provided the sound effects.
AmericaBlog just reported Spicer lied about CIA employees cheering Trump.
Spicer repeatedly claimed there were no Trump or White House guests in the first three rows at the CIA. Reports dispute that.
Spicer also falsely told reporters, in talking about an executive order Trump signed, that under President Obama there’s been a “dramatic expansion of the federal workforce in recent years.” That’s false:
Some responses via Twitter:
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