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Sean Spicer's first White House press briefing – live updates Sean Spicer's first White House press briefing – live updates
(35 minutes later)
8.03pm GMT
20:03
Has Trump started to have discussions with the leaders of Mexico and Canada about Nafta? He has spoken on the phone with them, but he wants to have that discussion when they come in person, Spicer says.
Spicer attempts to wrap things up, then gives one journalist a final question. He asks about US-India relations.
Whether it’s India or other countries, the goal is to think about countries and markets we want to access to benefit the American worker, he says.
And with that: “See you tomorrow.”
8.00pm GMT
20:00
“I know we’re getting really into facts,” Spicer said before that last note about the CIA crowd.
Asked about Michael Flynn’s calls to the Russian ambasssador, Spicer says the first call was about the Russian army choir plane crash, Christmas and holiday greetings, a Syria conference, and a future meeting with Trump and Putin. Have there been more calls? No.
Sean Spicer is now deliberately dodging a question about whether Trump will send more troops to Iraq "to take the oil"
Asked about Trump’s comparison of the intelligence services and Nazi Germany, Spicer says he was talking about “the process not the people”.
7.56pm GMT
19:56
After almost an hour a question is given to Jim Acosta of CNN, who was rebuffed and denounced as “fake news” by Trump at his Trump Tower presser.
Acosta asked why he and Trump both wanted to address the issue of the crowd size.
He says they wanted to combat a media narrative that is constantly trying to undermine Trump. “It’s a little demoralizing to turn on the TV day after day and hear ‘can’t do this, this guy’s not going to go through’ ... I’ve never seen it like this.”
It’s important to understand that to constantly be told “no, no, no” gets a little frustrating, he says.
“You see this historic thing”, Trump being inaugurated – “it’s an amazing view ... And that was for the first time that we had to go through fencing, that far out,” he claims.
But don’t you have bigger fish to fry?
It’s about a constant theme, Spicer says. “The default narrative is always negative, and it’s demoralising.”
Trump made a big sacrifice “leaving” a successful business, he says, and he doesn’t get credit for that. “Some days we do do the right thing. Some days we are successful ... When we’re right, say we’re right. When we’re wrong, say we’re wrong.”
No one is reporting on the cabinet nominees “straight up”, he implies.
Going back to the CIA crowd, “there were no Trump or White House folks sitting down” at all, he says.
Updated
at 8.04pm GMT
7.50pm GMT
19:50
Who was in the room with the CIA? Was senior CIA leadership there and were the people cheering brought in by Trump and incoming CIA chief Mike Pompeo?
Spicer denies it.
“When you look at the number of people there the audio alone speaks volumes,” he says confusingly.
He says 10 people at most went over with Trump. “So... 10 of 400.”
Were the people in the front rows CIA employees? “Some ... I’m not sure why this matters. Ten people were not that loud.” No one in the front row was with Trump, he says a little later.
At the end of the next four years will the US embassy be in Jerusalem?
We are at the early stages in this process, he says.
7.49pm GMT
19:49
Is he retracting his claim that Trump’s inauguration was the largest crowd ever in person?
That’s not what I said, says Spicer.
Did you mean in person and around the globe?
I meant total audence; both in persona nda round the globe, says Spicer.
You’re saying both together?
“That’s literally what I said ... I don’t know how you can interpret it differently.”
You’re not saying in person?
“I am not. I am saying it was the total largest audience witnessed in person and around the globe.”
His original quote in full from Saturday was:
Inaccurate numbers involving crowd size were also tweeted. No one had numbers, because the National Park Service, which controls the National Mall, does not put any out. By the way, this applies to any attempts to try to count the number of protestors today in the same fashion.
We do know a few things, so let’s go through the facts. We know that from the platform where the President was sworn in, to 4th Street, it holds about 250,000 people. From 4th Street to the media tent is about another 220,000. And from the media tent to the Washington Monument, another 250,000 people. All of this space was full when the President took the Oath of Office. We know that 420,000 people used the D.C. Metro public transit yesterday, which actually compares to 317,000 that used it for President Obama’s last inaugural. This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration -- period -- both in person and around the globe. Even the New York Times printed a photograph showing a misrepresentation of the crowd in the original Tweet in their paper, which showed the full extent of the support, depth in crowd, and intensity that existed.
These attempts to lessen the enthusiasm of the inauguration are shameful and wrong.
7.42pm GMT
19:42
David Smith
Here’s our first take from the room from David Smith in Washington:
Donald Trump’s spokesperson, Sean Spicer, has denied making false assertions, insisting: “Our intention is never to lie to you.”
Spicer, 45, was catapulted to celebrity on Saturday when he launched a fierce attack on the media for its coverage of Trump’s inauguration. The press secretary claimed it had the biggest audience in history despite evidence from photos, crowd scientists, TV ratings and the Washington Metro network.
#SpicerFacts jokes flooded Twitter and were used with relish by public announcers at sports games across the US.
But on Monday, in his first question and answer session at the White House, Spicer was far from apologetic. He attempted to turn the tables on the media by pointing out errors in its own reporting.
Asked if it was his intention to always tell the truth from the west wing podium, Spicer replied: “It is. It’s an honour to do this and yes, I believe we have to be honest with the American people.”
In a curious remark, he added: “I think sometimes we can disagree with the facts ... But our intention is never to lie to you.”
Spicer, more amiable than when he delivered Saturday’s diatribe, said there are times when media organisations make mistakes and are forced to publish corrections. “We’ll do our best every time we can,” Spicer said. “I’m gonna come out here and tell you the facts as I know them.”
If a mistake is made, it will be corrected, he added. Apparently referring to his comment on Saturday that the White House will hold the media accountable, he said: “But as I said the other day, it’s a two-way street.”
Spicer backed down on his use of Metro statistics to back his claim about the inauguration crowd, but he stuck to his guns about the overall audience. “Sure, it was the most watched inaugural... There were tens of millions of people that watched that online... It’s unquestionable.”
This included on phones, TVs, tablets, on Facebook and YouTube, he argued. “I’d love to see any information that proves that otherwise... I don’t think there’s any question that it was the most watched inauguration ever. I think I’m right in saying [Ronald] Reagan didn’t have YouTube.”
Turning his fire on the media, Spicer criticised a mistaken media report that Trump had removed a bust of civil rights leader Martin Luther King from the Oval Office. “We have a tweet go out about Martin Luther King. Think about how racially charged that is... Where was the apology to the president of the United States?
“There’s a point at which we have a right to go out there and correct the record... We want to have an open and healthy dialogue with the press corps and the American people.”
Asked about the massive women’s marches in Washington and other major cities, Spicer said: “He has a healthy respect for the First Amendment. This is what makes our country so beautiful.”
The briefing room in the West Wing was as crowded as for Barack Obama’s farewell press conference five days earlier.
Sitting at his right side were White House staff including Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway and director of strategic communities Hope Hicks. He began with a broad grin and an upbeat, “Good afternoon, everyone!” – apparently from the Conway playbook.
Why did Spicer take no questions on Saturday? “I came out to read a statement,” he said. “I’m here today and I’m going to stay out here as long as you want. You guys might want to leave before I do.”
7.40pm GMT
19:40
Spicer is asked again about whether Trump would reverse Obama’s DACA policies; he says again that it’s not the president’s first priority.
Why did the president chose the UK prime minister as the first foreign leader to meet? “We’ve always had that special relationship with Britain” and “we can always be closer”, Spicer says.
7.37pm GMT
19:37
What else will be on Trump’s legislative agenda aside from healthcare? Immigration, tax reform, and regulatory reform, says Spicer.
Has the president spoken to the intelligence agencies about Russia’s role in the election and will he allow their investigations to go on?
He doesn’t think he has spoken to them but he wouldn’t stop any such investigation, Spicer says.
Will the president release documents showing he has left his businesses? “I believe we have,” Spicer says, turning to Trump aide Hope Hicks for advice. I couldn’t hear her answer from the television but journalists in the room report that she confirmed that such supporting documents are not public “at this time”:
.@PressSec: “He has resigned from the company as he said he would” but Hicks says supporting docs aren’t public “at this time”
Asked if there's documented evidence of Trump resigning from his businesses, Hope Hicks says it's "not public at this time"
7.30pm GMT
19:30
2016 was the hottest year on record, Spicer is told.
He says Trump cares about the environment but also about the economy.
Spicer on Trump & climate: "going to meet w/team, decide which policies best for environment but not to detriment of jobs/growth. a balance"
What is his view of the protesters? Trump has a “healthy respect for the first amendment”. But a lot of these people were there “to protest an issue of concern to her and not against anything,” he claims.
“There were people that came to the Mall as they do all the time, in smaller numbers,” he says.
How does he reach out to them? Through action and success, Spicer says, rather than “soaring record about how much people care”.
7.26pm GMT7.26pm GMT
19:2619:26
What is the unemployment rate, Spicer is asked.What is the unemployment rate, Spicer is asked.
There are several version of that, he says.There are several version of that, he says.
Trump at one point said it was 42%, he is told.Trump at one point said it was 42%, he is told.
Trump is not focused on statistics but on people and families, says Spicer. “Too often in Washington we get our heads wrapped around a number, a statistic,” and forget the people behind the statistics. “For too long it’s been about what number are we looking at rather than what face are we looking at,” he says.Trump is not focused on statistics but on people and families, says Spicer. “Too often in Washington we get our heads wrapped around a number, a statistic,” and forget the people behind the statistics. “For too long it’s been about what number are we looking at rather than what face are we looking at,” he says.
UpdatedUpdated
at 7.26pm GMTat 7.26pm GMT
7.22pm GMT7.22pm GMT
19:2219:22
On renegotiating Nafta, he says an “action” has to be taken to “send notice” to Mexico and Canada – “there is a trigger within Nafta”. Trump has spoken to the leaders of Mexico and Canada and if they are willing you could renegotiate within Nafta, but if not, not, he says.On renegotiating Nafta, he says an “action” has to be taken to “send notice” to Mexico and Canada – “there is a trigger within Nafta”. Trump has spoken to the leaders of Mexico and Canada and if they are willing you could renegotiate within Nafta, but if not, not, he says.
7.19pm GMT7.19pm GMT
19:1919:19
7.18pm GMT7.18pm GMT
19:1819:18
ON ISRAEL — “There’s no decision” about moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Big walk back.ON ISRAEL — “There’s no decision” about moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Big walk back.
Will there be details of a UK-US trade deal when Theresa May visits on Friday? “I’m sure there will be a discussion of trade, the degree to which I don’t know yet,” he says. There may or may not be a joint press conference.Will there be details of a UK-US trade deal when Theresa May visits on Friday? “I’m sure there will be a discussion of trade, the degree to which I don’t know yet,” he says. There may or may not be a joint press conference.
The two will have a “great conversation about potential trade with the UK”, he says.The two will have a “great conversation about potential trade with the UK”, he says.
There are no plans for an informal chat before she arrives, he says.There are no plans for an informal chat before she arrives, he says.
7.16pm GMT7.16pm GMT
19:1619:16
He returns to the issue of the mistaken pool report by one of the White House press corps stating that the bust of Martin Luther King had been removed from the Oval Office. “Where was the apology to the president of the United States” and the “millions” (an unlikely figure) who read that, he asks. He then revises this to “a few thousand people”.He returns to the issue of the mistaken pool report by one of the White House press corps stating that the bust of Martin Luther King had been removed from the Oval Office. “Where was the apology to the president of the United States” and the “millions” (an unlikely figure) who read that, he asks. He then revises this to “a few thousand people”.
“It’s a two-way street,” he says again.“It’s a two-way street,” he says again.
Did the media invent the feud between the CIA and Trump (as Trump has suggested, despite his own widely publicised attacks on the intelligence community)? The CIA audience was very excited and were clapping and cheering when Trump went to see them, Spicer says, avoiding the question – “that doesn’t sound like a huge feud.”Did the media invent the feud between the CIA and Trump (as Trump has suggested, despite his own widely publicised attacks on the intelligence community)? The CIA audience was very excited and were clapping and cheering when Trump went to see them, Spicer says, avoiding the question – “that doesn’t sound like a huge feud.”
7.12pm GMT7.12pm GMT
19:1219:12
There are times when “we believe something to be true” or our information is not complete and the administration will put out a statement. He will present the “facts as I know them”. If he makes a mistake, he says, he’ll admit it.There are times when “we believe something to be true” or our information is not complete and the administration will put out a statement. He will present the “facts as I know them”. If he makes a mistake, he says, he’ll admit it.
“It’s a two way street ... the media makes mistakes all the time.”“It’s a two way street ... the media makes mistakes all the time.”
He seems to back down from the false DC Metro ridership numbers he quoted on Saturday, but he stands by his statement that the inauguration was watched by the biggest audience ever, specifically saying he means live streams, TV figures, mobile devices, and so on.He seems to back down from the false DC Metro ridership numbers he quoted on Saturday, but he stands by his statement that the inauguration was watched by the biggest audience ever, specifically saying he means live streams, TV figures, mobile devices, and so on.
“I’m pretty sure Reagan didn’t have YouTube, Facebook, or the internet,” he says, aggressively pursuing the issue.“I’m pretty sure Reagan didn’t have YouTube, Facebook, or the internet,” he says, aggressively pursuing the issue.
“I came out to read a statement, and I did it. I’m here today and I’m going to stay as long as you want,” he says, to laughter.“I came out to read a statement, and I did it. I’m here today and I’m going to stay as long as you want,” he says, to laughter.
7.09pm GMT7.09pm GMT
19:0919:09
He is asked about Russian claims of a joint air mission with the US in Syria, which the Pentagon has denied. Spicer says Trump would “work with any country that shares our interest in defeating Isis,” saying that applied to “Russia or anyone else.”He is asked about Russian claims of a joint air mission with the US in Syria, which the Pentagon has denied. Spicer says Trump would “work with any country that shares our interest in defeating Isis,” saying that applied to “Russia or anyone else.”
On the TPP he says the deal was “not putting the US interest first”.On the TPP he says the deal was “not putting the US interest first”.
Asked about the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, he says he does not “want to get in front of the president’s executive actions”, but he says the president wants to “maximise our use of natural resources”.Asked about the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines, he says he does not “want to get in front of the president’s executive actions”, but he says the president wants to “maximise our use of natural resources”.
The first few questions were asked by:The first few questions were asked by:
New York PostNew York Post
Christian Broadcast NetworkChristian Broadcast Network
UnivisionUnivision
FoxFox
April Ryan, of American Urban Radio NetworksApril Ryan, of American Urban Radio Networks
7.04pm GMT7.04pm GMT
19:0419:04
Asked again about Obamacare, Spicer is extremely vague. But he says Trump and “all leaders” have a mandate from the American people to “fix this system”.Asked again about Obamacare, Spicer is extremely vague. But he says Trump and “all leaders” have a mandate from the American people to “fix this system”.
7.03pm GMT7.03pm GMT
19:0319:03
Spicer seems to be avoiding the major television networks and the Associated Press, who would normally be given the first questions.Spicer seems to be avoiding the major television networks and the Associated Press, who would normally be given the first questions.
6.58pm GMT6.58pm GMT
18:5818:58
What message is Trump sending with his move on abortion today?What message is Trump sending with his move on abortion today?
Trump is pro-life and the reinstatement of this policy backs up that value and protects “taxpayer funds”, Spicer says.Trump is pro-life and the reinstatement of this policy backs up that value and protects “taxpayer funds”, Spicer says.
Spicer is asked about DACA recipients – undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children who Obama gave work authorisation and protection from deportation– and the White House Spanish site disappearing.Spicer is asked about DACA recipients – undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children who Obama gave work authorisation and protection from deportation– and the White House Spanish site disappearing.
The IT folks are working overtime, he says. On DACA he says building the wall and people here illegally will be prioritised.The IT folks are working overtime, he says. On DACA he says building the wall and people here illegally will be prioritised.