Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer told Fox News that he believes some people in the media are “out to get” President Donald Trump.
“There is definitely people with a personal agenda against this president and against conservatives,” Spicer said.
.@seanspicer: “There is definitely people with a personal agenda against this president and against conservatives.” pic.twitter.com/rCp0YcvrW6
— Fox News (@FoxNews) May 5, 2018
Spicer appeared on “Fox & Friends” Saturday morning, addressing what he felt was an obvious bias against the president. But he noted something else going on in the briefing room as well — journalists who are becoming increasingly aware that they can use testy briefing-room exchanges to gain notoriety.
“I think there are several of them that regardless of their personal bias, ideologically, are … realize that they can make more money and more fame by being obnoxious and creating viral moments in the briefing room.”
Indeed, in June 2017 when then press secretary Spicer disallowed cameras and audio recordings from the daily briefings, CNN’s chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta was among the first to balk. Acosta, well known for heated exchanges during the on-camera briefings, claimed that absent of cameras, there was no longer even a point to having briefings at all.
Acosta said at the time:
The White House press secretary is getting to a point where he’s just kind of useless. If they’re getting to this point where he’s not going to answer questions or go on camera or have audio, why are we even having these briefings or gaggles in the first place?
Spicer explained at the time that his goal was to make sure that the focus stayed on the president and what he was getting done rather than the occasional dust-up in the briefing room. “Some days we’ll have it – some days we won’t. I want the president’s voice to carry the day.”