National political reporter for axios.com, Jonathan Swan, reports that President Trump has been discussing a replacement for Sean Spicer after the White House Press Secretary appeared to have fumbled Tuesday’s announcement concerning the dismissal of FBI Director James Comey.
I can independently confirm reporting that President Trump has been sounding people out about removing Sean Spicer as Press Secretary. 1/2
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) May 11, 2017
The President feels his press team poorly served him yesterday. He believes it was incompetence on their part, not lack of time. 2/2
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) May 11, 2017
As Newsweek and the Washington Post report, Spicer had planned to email a statement announcing Comey’s termination Tuesday afternoon – however he was apparently having technical difficulties. Unable to send the announcement, Spicer stood in the doorway of the press office around 5:40 p.m. and ended up “shouting a statement to reporters who happened to be nearby.”
At 5:41 or so, reporters began to tweet the news – and nine minutes later at 5:50 pm EST, Spicer issued a tweet with the announcement:
Statement from @WhiteHouse @PressSec on @FBI Director pic.twitter.com/EdBRntMim5
— Sean Spicer (@PressSec) May 9, 2017
Then, Spicer stepped outside
After a brief interview with Fox’s Lou Dobbs, Spicer apparently stepped over to some bushes and ordered reporters to turn their lights off – allegedly refusing to be filmed:
“Just turn the lights off. Turn the lights off,” he ordered. “We’ll take care of this. … Can you just turn that light off?”
WH Press Secretary Sean Spicer speaks to reporters about the firing of FBI Director Comey as he walks into the West Wing. #FBIDirector pic.twitter.com/c2SNG63lIr
— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) May 10, 2017
(A correction from WaPo on Spicer’s spatial relationship to the bushes)
For about 10 minutes, Spicer answered questions surrounding Comey’s firing – repeatedly circling back to the fact that Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein had made the assessment and recommendation to fire Comey in light of how he handled the Clinton email investigation during the 2016 election.
Spicer then thanked reporters for their time and reentered the White House.
Twitter is buzzing
Now that blood is in the water, Spicer’s detractors are piling on…
@jbillinson #Spicer officially 'Homered' it. pic.twitter.com/D22mCaBAaw
— Rachel Thompson (@RachelintheOC) May 11, 2017
Meanwhile, back in the rose garden…#PressBriefing#Spicer pic.twitter.com/G6ZhJy0R1Q
— T.R. Morley (@TheRealMorley) May 10, 2017
Out the rest of the week
Deputy White House Press Secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, filled in for Spicer today – and is expected to address journalists throughout the rest of the week in Spicer’s stead.
Is this the end of the road for Sean Spicer? Will the Spice stop flowing? Or is all of this simply WaPo and Newsweek piling on a Press Secretary caught flat footed by a President who stayed mum on Comey’s firing until the last minute in an effort flush out leakers?
Comments »
