Sean Spicer

Spicer is the son of Kathryn (née Grossman) and Michael William Spicer (1944–2016).{{cite news|url=http://www.newportri.com/michael-w-spicer/article_9002aaf8-b8c9-11e6-b350-7fd6503f10e1.html |title=Michael W. Spicer |date=December 3, 2016 |website=NewportRI.com |access-date=December 14, 2017}} The Spicers were living in Port Washington when Sean was born at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, New York.{{Cite news|title=Born|date=September 25, 1971|newspaper=The Newport Daily News|location=Newport County, Rhode Island|page=2|quote=Spicer – Sept. 23, 1971, at North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, Long Island, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Spicer (Kathryn Grossman) of ... Port Washington, Long Island, N.Y.}}[https://twitter.com/becket/status/835915349845487617 The Newport Daily News clipping] at Stefan Becket, CBS News, verified Twitter account. Spicer grew up in the East Bay area of Rhode Island.{{Cite news|last=Arsenault |first=Mark |date=February 8, 2017 |title=The 17 rules of Sean Spicer, Rhode Island native |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/02/07/the-rules-sean-spicer-rhode-island-native/lTxSC2PRHZoZ551kKHBRmM/story.html |work=The Boston Globe |access-date=February 26, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170227151427/https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/02/07/the-rules-sean-spicer-rhode-island-native/lTxSC2PRHZoZ551kKHBRmM/story.html |archive-date=February 27, 2017 }} His father was an insurance agent and his mother is the department manager in the East Asian studies department at Brown University.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/fashion/weddings/rebecca-miller-sean-spicer.html?_r=0 |title=Fashion Weddings: Rebecca Miller & Sean Spicer |work=The New York Times|date=November 14, 2004 |access-date=November 11, 2016 |archive-date=December 27, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161227133624/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/fashion/weddings/rebecca-miller-sean-spicer.html?_r=1 |url-status=live |quote=Mr. Spicer, also 33... }}{{cite web|title=Episode 110: Sean Spicer |url=http://politics.uchicago.edu/pages/axefiles |publisher=University of Chicago Institute of Politics |access-date=January 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126204307/http://politics.uchicago.edu/pages/axefiles |archive-date=January 26, 2017 }}{{cite news|last=Lowry |first=Rich |url=http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/12/trump-on-twitter-ill-punish-companies-that-ship-jobs-overseas-pences-power-play-trumps-tax-nightmare-spotted-at-eric-wilson-and-rachael-dean-wedding-bday-al-hunt-217683 |title=Trump on Twitter: I'll punish companies that ship jobs overseas |newspaper=Politico |date=December 1, 2016 |access-date=December 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161223132427/http://www.politico.com/tipsheets/playbook/2016/12/trump-on-twitter-ill-punish-companies-that-ship-jobs-overseas-pences-power-play-trumps-tax-nightmare-spotted-at-eric-wilson-and-rachael-dean-wedding-bday-al-hunt-217683 |archive-date=December 23, 2016 }}

Spicer is of partial Irish descent,{{cite web|url=https://mobile.twitter.com/seanspicer/status/650498743993827328 |title=Sean Spicer |access-date=April 19, 2017 |date=October 3, 2015 |author=@seanspicer |publisher=Twitter |quote=I'm Irish, i drink and like people |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170220050300/https://mobile.twitter.com/seanspicer/status/650498743993827328 |archive-date=February 20, 2017 }} and was raised Catholic.{{cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/sean-spicer-interview-trump-spin-doctor-smithwick-s-drinker-ireland-fan-1.2964477|title=Sean Spicer interview: Trump spin doctor, Smithwick's drinker, Ireland fan|date=February 6, 2017|newspaper=The Irish Times|first1=Simon|last1=Carswell|first2=Suzanne|last2=Lynch|access-date=April 5, 2017|quote=Spicer, the great-grandson of an Irish immigrant|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311154238/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/us/sean-spicer-interview-trump-spin-doctor-smithwick-s-drinker-ireland-fan-1.2964477|archive-date=March 11, 2017}} From 1985 to 1989, Spicer attended Portsmouth Abbey School, a Catholic boarding school in Rhode Island.{{Cite news|last=McGee|first=Sandy|date=December 22, 2016|title=President Elect's New Press Secretary's Local School Ties|newspaper=Portsmouth Press|url=https://portsmouthpress.com/new-press-secretary-portsmouth-ties|url-status=dead|access-date=January 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607125247/https://portsmouthpress.com/new-press-secretary-portsmouth-ties/|archive-date=June 7, 2017}} While in high school, he volunteered for local political campaigns in Rhode Island and continued those activities while at college.{{cite news|last=Kalunian|first=Kim|date=December 26, 2016|title=RI native Sean Spicer on journey to White House|publisher=WPRI-TV|location=Providence, Rhode Island|url=http://wpri.com/2016/12/26/ri-native-sean-spicer-on-journey-to-white-house|url-status=dead|access-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201034554/http://wpri.com/2016/12/26/ri-native-sean-spicer-on-journey-to-white-house/|archive-date=February 1, 2017}}

He attended Connecticut College from 1989 to 1993 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.{{cite web|url=http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/contact.cfm?FacultyID=1888 |title=Sean Spicer – Former Guest Speaker |publisher=Leadership Institute |access-date=November 11, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161111192545/http://www.leadershipinstitute.org/Training/contact.cfm?FacultyID=1888 |archive-date=November 11, 2016 }} In college he was a student senator. In April 1993, an article in the student paper, The College Voice, referred to Spicer as "Sean Sphincter"; Spicer submitted a complaint to the paper and followed up by pushing for legal action against the paper, for which he was satirized by the campus satirical publication Blats. The incident was later cited as a precursor of his contentious relationship with the media.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/us/politics/donald-trump-administration.html?_r=2|title=Spicer's first war with the news media: Sad! |at= Taxpayers Will Defend Trump in Suit Charging Constitutional Violations|author=Charlie Savage|author2=Eric Lipton|author3=Gardiner Harris|author4=Michael D. Shearjan|date=January 23, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times}}{{cite news|url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sean-sphincter-saturday-night-live-how-sean-spicer-became-punchline-1605434|title=From Sean Sphincter to Saturday Night Live: How Sean Spicer became a punchline|newspaper=International Business Times|date=February 8, 2017|author=Daniel Bates|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211160742/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sean-sphincter-saturday-night-live-how-sean-spicer-became-punchline-1605434|archive-date=February 11, 2017}}

In 2012, he acquired a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.{{cite news|url=https://www.usnews.com/news/slideshows/who-is-sean-spicer?slide=2|title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Sean Spicer|last=Dicker|first=Rachel|date=January 23, 2017|work=U.S. News & World Report}}

After graduating from college in 1993, Spicer worked on a number of political campaigns.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/business/media/sean-spicer-trump-press-secretary-is-not-here-to-be-someones-buddy.html|title=Sean Spicer, Trump Press Secretary, Is 'Not Here to Be Someone's Buddy'|last=Grynbaum|first=Michael M.|date=January 29, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=February 11, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170211213601/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/business/media/sean-spicer-trump-press-secretary-is-not-here-to-be-someones-buddy.html|archive-date=February 11, 2017}} In the late 1990s, he worked for representatives Mike Pappas (R-NJ),{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/02/us/bill-financing-house-panels-passes-as-gop-rebels-gain.html |title=Bill Financing House Panels Passes as G.O.P. Rebels Gain |last=Schmitt |first=Eric |date=May 2, 1997 |newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129174909/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/02/us/bill-financing-house-panels-passes-as-gop-rebels-gain.html |archive-date=January 29, 2017 }} Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ),{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/04/02/on-hill-campaign-duties-seldom-far-away/bde90042-ade7-44a9-b4d6-c95082422e20/ |title=On Hill, Campaign Duties Seldom Far Away |last=Morgan |first=Dan |date=April 2, 1997 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219102850/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/04/02/on-hill-campaign-duties-seldom-far-away/bde90042-ade7-44a9-b4d6-c95082422e20/ |archive-date=February 19, 2017 }} Mark Foley (R-FL),{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-03-19/news/9903180712_1_foley-hopefuls-mccarty |title=For Foley. 'Not Right Time' For Senate Race |newspaper=Sun Sentinel |location=South Florida |date=March 19, 1999 |first=Cindy |last=Glover |access-date=January 19, 2017 |quote='Not Right Time' For Senate Race, Foley spokesman Sean Spicer said |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129115257/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1999-03-19/news/9903180712_1_foley-hopefuls-mccarty |archive-date=January 29, 2017 }} and Clay Shaw (R-FL).{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/11/10/house-race-recounts-also-may-be-crucial/d080101b-aefb-4332-b23d-a925ccd19a42/ |title=House Race Recounts Also May Be Crucial |last1=Vita |first1=Matthew |date=November 10, 2000 |last2=Eilperin |first2=Juliet |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219133312/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/2000/11/10/house-race-recounts-also-may-be-crucial/d080101b-aefb-4332-b23d-a925ccd19a42/ |archive-date=February 19, 2017 }}

In 1999, Spicer joined the United States Navy Reserve as a public affairs officer; he currently holds the rank of Commander.{{Cite news|url=http://www.executivegov.com/2016/12/trump-picks-navy-reserve-commander-sean-spicer-as-white-house-press-secretary |title=Trump Picks Navy Reserve Commander Sean Spicer as White House Press Secretary |last=Edwards |first=Jane |date=December 23, 2016 |publisher=ExecutiveGov.com |access-date=January 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226162540/https://www.executivegov.com/2016/12/trump-picks-navy-reserve-commander-sean-spicer-as-white-house-press-secretary/ |archive-date=December 26, 2016 }} As of December 2016, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff's naval reserve contingent in Washington, D.C.,{{cite news|url=http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/spicer-press-secretary-navy-trump |title=The next White House Press Secretary is a Navy officer |work=Military Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128120344/http://www.militarytimes.com/articles/spicer-press-secretary-navy-trump |archive-date=January 28, 2017 }} and in 2017 was a member of the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Task Force.

From 2000 to 2001, Spicer was the communications director on the House Government Reform Committee, and from 2001 to 2002, he was director of incumbent retention at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC).{{Cite web|url=http://www.p2016.org/parties/rnc15.html |title=Republican National Committee (RNC) Organization 2015 |publisher=DemocracyInAction |access-date=January 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013131659/http://www.p2016.org/parties/rnc15.html |archive-date=October 13, 2016 }}

From 2003 to 2005, Spicer was the communications director and spokesman for the House Budget Committee. He subsequently was the communications director for the Republican Conference of the U.S. House of Representatives, and then, from 2006 to 2009, was the assistant for media and public affairs at the Office of the United States Trade Representative in President George W. Bush's administration.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-spokesman-idUSKBN14B27C |title=Trump taps RNC's Spicer for White House spokesman |last=Alexander |first=David |date=December 23, 2016 |work=Reuters |access-date=January 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129072313/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-spokesman-idUSKBN14B27C |archive-date=January 29, 2017 }} He wore an Easter bunny suit during the White House Easter Egg Rolls.{{cite news|last1=Davis |first1=Julie Hirschfeld |title=The Latest Test for the White House? Pulling Off Its Easter Egg Roll |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/us/politics/white-house-easter-egg-roll-trump.html |work=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2017 |page=A1 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170503105446/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/us/politics/white-house-easter-egg-roll-trump.html |archive-date=May 3, 2017 }} Spicer was also an elector from Virginia in the 2004 presidential election, one of 13 pledged to George W. Bush.https://m.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2004/dec/08/electors-vote-for-a-president/

From 2009 to 2011, Spicer was a partner at Endeavor Global Strategies, a public relations firm he co-founded to represent foreign governments and corporations with business before the U.S. government.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2009/03/suite-talk-march-12-2009-019908 |title=Suite Talk March 12, 2009 |author=Ariel Alexovich |author2=Jacqueline Klingebiel |newspaper=Politico |access-date=January 24, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128221439/http://www.politico.com/story/2009/03/suite-talk-march-12-2009-019908 |archive-date=January 28, 2017 }} His clients included the government of Colombia, which was then seeking a free trade agreement with the U.S. amid public criticism of its human rights record.{{cite web|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/-38284-1.html|title=K Street Files: Colombia Is ... Controversy|date=September 8, 2009|access-date=January 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129035707/http://www.rollcall.com/news/-38284-1.html |archive-date=January 29, 2017 }} "K Street Files: Colombia is controversy," Roll Call, September 8, 2009; retrieved January 25, 2017. Spicer worked full-time at the firm until February 2011.{{Cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/republican-party/sean-spicer-chosen-as-rnc-comm.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103112731/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/republican-party/sean-spicer-chosen-as-rnc-comm.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 3, 2012|title=Sean Spicer chosen as RNC communications director|last=Cillizza|first=Chris|date=February 24, 2011|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=January 22, 2017}}

In February 2011, Spicer became the communications director of the Republican National Committee. At the RNC, he enlarged the organization's social media operations, built an in-house TV production team, and created a rapid response program to reply to attacks. In February 2015, he was given an additional role, as chief strategist for the party.{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/01/politics/sean-spicier-rnc-communications/index.html |title=Top RNC communicator expands role |last=Preston |first=Mark |date=February 1, 2015 |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129002810/http://www.cnn.com/2015/02/01/politics/sean-spicier-rnc-communications/index.html |archive-date=January 29, 2017 }}

While at the RNC, Spicer was critical of then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. In June 2015, after Trump said illegal immigrants from Mexico were involved in crimes in the U.S., Spicer said "painting Mexican Americans with that kind of a brush, I think that's probably something that is not helpful to the cause."[https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rnc-trumps-immigration-rhetoric-not-helpful "RNC: Trump's immigration rhetoric 'not helpful'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202045611/http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/rnc-trumps-immigration-rhetoric-not-helpful |date=February 2, 2017 }}, MSNBC, June 18, 2015, retrieved January 25, 2017. In July 2015, he released a public criticism of Trump's comments on U.S. Senator John McCain, saying "there is no place in our party or our country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably."[https://gop.com/rnc-statement-in-response-to-donald-trumps-comments-on-us-senator-john-mccain/ "RNC statement in response to Donald Trump's comments on U.S. Senator John McCain,"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127044751/https://gop.com/rnc-statement-in-response-to-donald-trumps-comments-on-us-senator-john-mccain/ |date=January 27, 2017 }} GOP.com, retrieved January 25, 2017.

On December 22, 2016, Spicer was named the White House press secretary for Donald Trump.{{Cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2016/12/22/media/sean-spicer-jason-miller-white-house-press-secretary-donald-trump/index.html |title=Trump Picks Sean Spicer as White House Press Secretary, Jason Miller as Communications Director |last=Byers |first=Dylan |publisher=CNN |access-date=December 22, 2016 |date=December 22, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222193332/http://money.cnn.com/2016/12/22/media/sean-spicer-jason-miller-white-house-press-secretary-donald-trump/index.html |archive-date=December 22, 2016 }} On December 24, he was also named the communications director for the Trump administration after the sudden and unexpected resignation of Jason Miller.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/transition-advisers-tweets-add-intrigue-to-trump-aides-sudden-resignation/2016/12/25/a5aa0018-cae4-11e6-a87f-b917067331bb_story.html |title=Transition adviser's tweets add intrigue to Trump aide Jason Miller's sudden resignation |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=December 25, 2016 |access-date=January 2, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101042811/https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/transition-advisers-tweets-add-intrigue-to-trump-aides-sudden-resignation/2016/12/25/a5aa0018-cae4-11e6-a87f-b917067331bb_story.html |archive-date=January 1, 2017 }}

An April 2017 Politico/Morning Consult poll showed that Spicer had a nationwide name recognition of 60%, much higher than most other White House staffers and previous press secretaries.{{cite news|last1=Karni |first1=Annie |last2=Palmeri |first2=Tara |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/white-house-aides-celebrity-237343 |title=White House aides grapple with newfound celebrity |work=Politico |date=April 17, 2017 |access-date=April 20, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504113442/http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/white-house-aides-celebrity-237343 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 }}

File:White House Spokesman Spicer Holds News Conference.webm

On January 21, 2017, which was the day after the inauguration and two days before his first official press conference, Spicer made a statement to the press that was critical of the media; he said that they had underestimated the size of the crowds for President Trump's inaugural ceremony. He claimed that the ceremony had drawn the "largest audience to ever to witness an inauguration, period – both in person and around the globe". But as many sources immediately pointed out, that claim was false.{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/01/21/media/sean-spicer-press-secretary-statement|title=White House press secretary attacks media for accurately reporting inauguration crowds|publisher=CNN|date=January 21, 2017|access-date=January 21, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122011618/http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/21/media/sean-spicer-press-secretary-statement|archive-date=January 22, 2017}}

Spicer stated that the press had altered images of the event to minimize the size of the crowds. He said floor coverings over the grass were to blame for a visual effect that made the audience look smaller, and stated they had never been used before despite the fact that they had been used in 2013 for the preceding second inauguration of Barack Obama.{{cite news|last1=Bennett|first1=Brian|title=What the White House said about Trump's inauguration crowd and how it was wrong|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/la-na-pol-trump-inauguration-crowd-claims-20170122-htmlstory.html|work=The San Diego Union-Tribune|date=January 22, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Helsel |first1=Phil |title=Trump Press Secretary Slams Media Over Inauguration Crowd Size Coverage |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/inauguration-2017/new-white-house-press-secretary-blasts-media-over-crowd-size-n710351 |work=NBC News |date=January 21, 2017 |access-date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123002212/http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/inauguration-2017/new-white-house-press-secretary-blasts-media-over-crowd-size-n710351 |archive-date=January 23, 2017 }} He also used incorrect figures to claim that Metro ridership was higher during Trump's inauguration than during Obama's inauguration, when in fact it was lower than during either of Obama's inaugurations.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/01/23/trump-white-house-admits-its-metro-ridership-figures-for-inauguration-day-were-wrong |title=Trump White House admits its Metro ridership figures for Inauguration Day were wrong |last=Siddiqui |first=Faiz |date=January 23, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 24, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124140253/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/dr-gridlock/wp/2017/01/23/trump-white-house-admits-its-metro-ridership-figures-for-inauguration-day-were-wrong/ |archive-date=January 24, 2017 }} Spicer took no questions after his statement.{{cite news|last1=Cillizza |first1=Chris |title=Sean Spicer held a press conference. He didn't take questions. Or tell the whole truth. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/21/sean-spicer-held-a-press-conference-he-didnt-take-questions-or-tell-the-whole-truth/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 21, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122022011/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/21/sean-spicer-held-a-press-conference-he-didnt-take-questions-or-tell-the-whole-truth/ |archive-date=January 22, 2017 }} Later, Spicer defended his previous statements by saying "sometimes we can disagree with the facts".{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-press-conference-sean-spicer-facts-disagree-white-house-a7542466.html |title=Donald Trump's press secretary says 'we can sometimes disagree with the facts' |date=January 23, 2017 |work=The Independent |location=UK |access-date=February 1, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202072031/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-press-conference-sean-spicer-facts-disagree-white-house-a7542466.html |archive-date=February 2, 2017 }} It was subsequently reported that Spicer had made the statement on direct orders from Trump, who was furious at what he considered unfair press coverage of his inauguration.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-first-days-inside-trumps-white-house-fury-tumult-and-a-reboot/2017/01/23/7ceef1b0-e191-11e6-ba11-63c4b4fb5a63_story.html |title=The first days inside Trump's White House: Fury, tumult and a reboot |date=January 23, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 24, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124024815/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/the-first-days-inside-trumps-white-house-fury-tumult-and-a-reboot/2017/01/23/7ceef1b0-e191-11e6-ba11-63c4b4fb5a63_story.html |archive-date=January 24, 2017 }}

In response to the briefing, conservative political analyst Bill Kristol wrote: "It is embarrassing, as an American, to watch this briefing by Sean Spicer from the podium at the White House."{{cite news|title=White House press secretary attacks media for accurately reporting inauguration crowds |url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/01/21/media/sean-spicer-press-secretary-statement |date=January 21, 2017 |first=Brian |last=Stelter |publisher=CNN |access-date=January 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122011618/http://money.cnn.com/2017/01/21/media/sean-spicer-press-secretary-statement/ |archive-date=January 22, 2017 }} Vanity Fair described Spicer's statement as "peppered with lies",{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/01/sean-spicer-inauguration-statement-lies |title=Trump Spokesman's Lecture on Media Accuracy Is Peppered With Lies |first=Kia |last=Makarechi |work=Vanity Fair |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122055956/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/01/sean-spicer-inauguration-statement-lies |archive-date=January 22, 2017 }} and The Atlantic described Spicer's briefing as "bizarre". The article referred to the "Trump administration's needless lies" and noted that Spicer's statements appeared to involve a "deliberate attempt to mislead".{{cite news|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/the-pointless-needless-lies-of-the-trump-administration/514061 |title='Alternative Facts': The Needless Lies of the Trump Administration |first=David A. |last=Graham |work=The Atlantic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122165539/https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/01/the-pointless-needless-lies-of-the-trump-administration/514061/ |archive-date=January 22, 2017 }} Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post gave Spicer's claims four Pinocchios, writing that he was so appalled by the press secretary's performance that he wished he could have given him five Pinocchios instead of the maximum number of four.

Trump's team defended Spicer's statements. White House chief of staff Reince Priebus stated that the purpose of Spicer's conference was to call out what he called "dishonesty in the media" and their "obsession with delegitimizing the president".{{Cite web|url=http://www.mediaite.com/tv/chris-wallace-grills-priebus-how-does-arguing-about-crowd-size-help-the-american-people |title=Chris Wallace Grills Priebus: 'How Does Arguing About Crowd Size' Help the American People? |publisher=Mediaite |access-date=January 23, 2017 |first=Josh |last=Feldman |date=January 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124162026/http://www.mediaite.com/tv/chris-wallace-grills-priebus-how-does-arguing-about-crowd-size-help-the-american-people/ |archive-date=January 24, 2017 }} Trump's campaign strategist and counselor, Kellyanne Conway, told NBC's Chuck Todd that Trump's inauguration crowd numbers could not be proved nor quantified and that the press secretary was simply giving "alternative facts".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/wh-spokesman-gave-alternative-facts-inauguration-crowd-n710466 |title=Kellyanne Conway: Spicer 'gave alternative facts' on inauguration crowd |work=NBC News |access-date=January 22, 2017 |date=January 22, 2017 |first=Alexandra |last=Jaffe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122161236/http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/wh-spokesman-gave-alternative-facts-inauguration-crowd-n710466 |archive-date=January 22, 2017 }} Todd responded by saying, "Alternative facts are not facts. They are falsehoods."{{cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/kellyanne-conway-cites-alternative-facts-in-tense-interview-with-chuck-todd-over-false-crowd-size-claims-171242433.html |title=Kellyanne Conway cites 'alternative facts' in tense interview with Chuck Todd over false crowd size claims |publisher=Yahoo! News |first=Dylan |last=Stableford |date=January 22, 2017 |access-date=May 19, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170519100324/https://www.yahoo.com/news/kellyanne-conway-cites-alternative-facts-in-tense-interview-with-chuck-todd-over-false-crowd-size-claims-171242433.html |archive-date=May 19, 2017 }}

File:President Donald Trump receives a briefing on a military strike.jpg operation]]

Two days later on January 23, 2017, Spicer held his first official White House press conference and took questions from reporters.{{cite news|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/23/sean-spicer-white-house-press-conference.html |title=White House spokesman Sean Spicer's first official press conference |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123213913/https://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/23/sean-spicer-white-house-press-conference.html |archive-date=January 23, 2017 }}{{cite news|title=Sean Spicer Takes Questions From Media During First White House Briefing |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/live/video/sean-spicer-takes-questions-from-media-during-first-white-house-briefing |work=CBS News |date=January 23, 2017 |access-date=January 24, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128232214/http://www.cbsnews.com/live/video/sean-spicer-takes-questions-from-media-during-first-white-house-briefing/ |archive-date=January 28, 2017 }} When Spicer was asked about attendance at the inauguration, he said that his definition of a viewing audience also included individuals who watched the event on television as well as on social media online. He claimed that online viewership must have been in the "tens of millions".{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Jenna|title=Sean Spicer at press briefing: 'Our intention is never to lie to you'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/23/sean-spicer-expected-to-soon-give-news-briefing|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170123222243/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2017/01/23/sean-spicer-expected-to-soon-give-news-briefing|archive-date=January 23, 2017}}

Spicer's argument was based on the reported figure of 16.9 million people who began streaming the inauguration on CNN's website. This argument has been criticized because the 16.9 million streams included people who started the stream and then left.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/01/23/theres-no-evidence-that-trumps-inauguration-was-the-most-watched-in-history-period/ |title=There's no evidence that Trump's inauguration was the most-watched in history. Period. |last=Bump |first=Philip |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 23, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124042959/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/01/23/theres-no-evidence-that-trumps-inauguration-was-the-most-watched-in-history-period/ |archive-date=January 24, 2017 }}

On February 7, 2017, CNN reported that "President Donald Trump is disappointed in Spicer's performance during the first two weeks of the administration." Trump was also upset at White House chief of staff Reince Priebus for recommending Spicer, the network reported. Trump "regrets it every day and blames Priebus", a White House source told CNN.{{citation|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/07/politics/sean-spicer-white-house-communications/index.html |title=White House ramping up search for communications director after Spicer's rocky start |author=Jim Acosta |publisher=CNN |date=February 7, 2017 |access-date=February 7, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170207223024/http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/07/politics/sean-spicer-white-house-communications/index.html |archive-date=February 7, 2017 }}{{cite news|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/318385-report-trump-regrets-hiring-spicer-blames-priebus/ |title=CNN: Trump regrets hiring Spicer, blames Priebus |newspaper=The Hill |access-date=May 19, 2017 |first=Rebecca |last=Savransky |date=February 7, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517220321/http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/318385-report-trump-regrets-hiring-spicer-blames-priebus |archive-date=May 17, 2017 }} His role as temporary communications director was filled by Michael Dubke on March 6, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2017/03/06/president-donald-j-trump-announces-white-house-staff-appointments |work=whitehouse.gov |title=President Donald J. Trump Announces White House Staff Appointments |via=National Archives |date=March 6, 2017 }}

On April 11, 2017, Spicer issued a statement in reference to the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack. He said that Russia should not support the Syrian government and also commented that in World War II, "You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons."{{cite web|url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/11/press-briefing-press-secretary-sean-spicer-4112017-36 |title=Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer, 4/11/2017, #36 |publisher=White House |date=April 11, 2017 |quote=MR. SPICER: I think a couple things. You look – we didn't use chemical weapons in World War II. You had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons. So you have to, if you're Russia, ask yourself is this a country that you and a regime that you want to align yourself with? You have previously signed on to international agreements rightfully acknowledging that the use of chemical weapons should be out of bounds by every country. To not stand up to not only Assad, but your own word, should be troubling. |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170506114026/https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/04/11/press-briefing-press-secretary-sean-spicer-4112017-36 |archive-date=May 6, 2017 }}{{cite news|last1=Nicholas Fandos |last2=Mark Landler |title=Sean Spicer Raises Outcry With Talk of Hitler, Assad and Poison Gas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/us/politics/sean-spicer-hitler-gas-holocaust-center.html |work=The New York Times |date=April 11, 2017 |page=A13 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502180919/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/11/us/politics/sean-spicer-hitler-gas-holocaust-center.html |archive-date=May 2, 2017 |author2-link=Mark Landler }}

His remarks were widely criticized, especially given the fact that the timing of the remarks coincided with the Jewish holiday of Passover.{{cite news|last1=Tani |first1=Maxwell |title=Sean Spicer apologizes for Hitler comparison: 'It really is painful to myself to know that I did something like that' |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/sean-spicer-apologizes-hitler-comparison-assad-2017-4 |website=Business Insider |date=April 12, 2017 |access-date=April 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504082817/http://www.businessinsider.com/sean-spicer-apologizes-hitler-comparison-assad-2017-4 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 }} Spicer later clarified that he was not trying to deny that Hitler used lethal gas during the Holocaust, instead that he was trying to compare how Assad dropped bombs on population centers to how Hitler used the gas.{{cite magazine|url=https://deadline.com/2017/04/sean-spicer-hitler-not-gas-people-syria-assad-holocaust-1202067756 |title=Sean Spicer Gobsmacks Press, Saying Hitler 'Did Not Use Gas On His Own People'|first=Lisa |last=de Moraes |magazine=Deadline |access-date=April 11, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523112118/http://deadline.com/2017/04/sean-spicer-hitler-not-gas-people-syria-assad-holocaust-1202067756/ |archive-date=May 23, 2017 }} Amid calls for his resignation, Spicer apologized the next day.{{cite news|last1=Grynbaum|first1=Michael|title='I Screwed Up': Sean Spicer Apologizes for Holocaust Comments|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/business/media/sean-spicer-apology-holocaust-comments.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 12, 2017|access-date=July 31, 2017}}

As White House press secretary, Spicer had a contentious relationship with the White House press corps. In February 2017, the White House selectively blocked several news outlets{{snd}}including the BBC, CNN, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and Politico{{snd}}from an off-camera briefing (or "gaggle") with Spicer, a move that prompted strong objections from the outlets concerned, as well as by the White House Correspondents' Association.{{cite news |first=Hadas |last=Gold |author-link=Hadas Gold|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/reporters-blocked-white-house-gaggle-235360 |title=White House selectively blocks media outlets from briefing with Spicer |work=Politico |date=February 24, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2017 }}{{cite news |first=Sabrina |last=Siddiqui |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/24/media-blocked-white-house-briefing-sean-spicer |title=Trump press ban: BBC, CNN and Guardian denied access to briefing |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 25, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2017 }}{{cite news |first=Paul |last=Farhi |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/cnn-new-york-times-other-media-barred-from-white-house-briefing/2017/02/24/4c22f542-fad5-11e6-be05-1a3817ac21a5_story.html |title=CNN, New York Times, other media barred from White House briefing |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=February 24, 2017 |access-date=July 31, 2017 }} The Washington Post wrote that the barring of the outlets was "a rare and surprising move that came amid President Trump's escalating war against the media." Reporters from the Associated Press and Time magazine were admitted to the briefing, but chose not to attend in protest of the exclusion of other journalists. In May 2017 Sandra Sanders began to handle some key press briefings.Paul, Newly. “HE SAID, SHE SAID: How Gender Affects the Tone and Substance of White House Press Briefings.” The Evolution of Political Rhetoric: The Year in C-SPAN Archives Research, Volume 6, edited by Robert X. Browning, Purdue University Press, 2021, pp. 163–86. [https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv15pjz0f.13 JSTOR website] Retrieved 10 Feb. 2025.

On July 11, 2017, Spicer, along with Donald Trump, and Dan Scavino (the White House director of social media), was sued by the Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University in U.S. federal court in Manhattan. The suit, Knight First Amendment Institute v. Trump, alleges that Trump and the White House officials violated the First Amendment by blocking some users from accessing Trump's Twitter content.{{cite news|last1=Savage|first1=Charlie|title=Twitter Users Blocked by Trump File Lawsuit|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/11/us/politics/trump-twitter-users-lawsuit.html|date=July 11, 2017|access-date=July 12, 2017|newspaper=The New York Times}}

On July 21, 2017, Spicer announced his intention to resign as White House Press Secretary. He made his decision known immediately after President Trump appointed financier Anthony Scaramucci as White House communications director. In the weeks leading up to the resignation announcement, Spicer had sought "a more strategic communications role" in the White House.{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sean-spicer-resigns-as-white-house-press-secretary-report/|title=Sean Spicer resigns as White House press secretary|work=CBS News|date=July 21, 2017}} Trump had reportedly been dissatisfied for some time with Spicer's performance as White House Press Secretary.Acosta, Jim; Diamond, Jeremy (June 20, 2017). [https://edition.cnn.com/2017/06/19/politics/sean-spicer-may-be-leaving-the-white-house-podium/index.html "Sean Spicer Might Be Leaving White House Podium"]. CNN. According to The New York Times, Trump asked Spicer to stay on, but Spicer announced his resignation after telling the President he "vehemently disagreed" with the appointment of Scaramucci. In a tweet, Spicer said that it has been "an honor and a privilege" to serve Trump and that he would continue his service in the White House, through August 2017. His new position was not identified.Glenn Thrush (July 21, 2017). [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/21/us/politics/sean-spicer-resigns-as-white-house-press-secretary.html Sean Spicer Resigns as White House Press Secretary]. The New York Times. Sarah Sanders was announced as the new White House Press Secretary the same day.{{cite news|url=https://time.com/4868903/sarah-huckabee-sanders-spicer-press-secretary/|title=Sarah Huckabee Sanders Is Officially Taking Sean Spicer's Old Job|last=Farber|first=Madeline|date=July 21, 2017|magazine=Time|access-date=July 21, 2017}}

After several low-profile months, Spicer was reportedly refused contracts to be a paid contributor at any of the five major U.S. TV news networks—ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, and NBC News—according to a number of anonymous sources, this was due to a "lack of credibility".{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/networks-pass-sean-spicer-paid-contributor-role-n802781?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma |title=Networks Pass on Sean Spicer for Paid Contributor Role |date=September 19, 2017 |first=Claire |last=Atkinson |work=NBC News |access-date=December 26, 2021 }}{{cite news |last=Savransky |first=Rebecca |date=September 20, 2017 |title=TV networks won't hire Spicer due to 'lack of credibility': report |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/351499-tv-networks-wont-hire-spicer-due-to-lack-of-credibility-report/ |work=The Hill |location=Washington, DC}}{{cite news |last=May |first=Charlie |date=September 20, 2017 |title=Sean Spicer can't get a network job "due to lack of credibility" |url=https://www.salon.com/2017/09/20/sean-spicer-cant-get-a-network-job-due-to-lack-of-credibility/ |work=Salon.com |access-date=June 25, 2024}}

On September 17, 2017, Spicer made a cameo appearance at the 2017 Emmy Awards, spoofing his first press conference as Trump's press secretary by saying that the Emmys broadcast would garner "the largest audience to witness an Emmys, period".{{Cite web|last=Gonzalez|first=Sandra|date=2017-09-18|title=Sean Spicer tries to clean up his battered image with a surprise Emmy appearance|url=https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/17/entertainment/sean-spicer-emmys/index.html|access-date=2022-01-25|website=CNN|language=en}} The following week he gave an interview to The New York Times and appeared on Good Morning America.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/18/arts/television/sean-spicer-emmys.html?mcubz=0&_r=0|title=Sean Spicer Says He Regrets Berating Reporters Over Inauguration Crowds|last=Thrush|first=Glenn|date=September 18, 2017|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 24, 2017}}{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-entertainment-news-updates-sean-spicer-emmy-cameo-was-1506008880-htmlstory.html |title=Sean Spicer's Emmys cameo was Trump-approved: 'He thought I did a great job' |last=Hill |first=Libby |date=September 21, 2017 |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=September 24, 2017}} Also, it was revealed that during his eight-month tenure at the White House he kept copious notes on what he did, saw, and heard, filling numerous notebooks. The revelation provoked speculation that the notebooks would be of interest to the investigation of special prosecutor Robert Mueller.{{cite news| url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/21/politics/sean-spicer-donald-trump-notebook/index.html |title=Spicer's note-taking could give investigators a Trump roadmap|last1=Merica|first1=Dan|last2=Zeleny|first2=Jeff|date=September 21, 2017 |work=CNN|access-date=September 24, 2017}}

Spicer announced in December 2017 on The Sean Hannity Show that he would release a book, The Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President, in July 2018 about his tenure with the Trump administration.{{cite news |url= https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/12/11/sean-spicer-announces-book-to-set-the-record-straight-about-trumps-campaign-presidency/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date= December 11, 2017 |access-date= January 15, 2018 |title=Sean Spicer announces book to 'set the record straight' about Trump's campaign, presidency |first=Travis M. |last= Andrews }}

On July 31, 2019, President Trump announced his intention to appoint Spicer to be a Member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy{{cite web |url=https://trumpwhitehouse.archives.gov/presidential-actions/president-donald-j-trump-announces-intent-nominate-appoint-individuals-key-administration-posts-15/ |title=President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Nominate and Appoint Individuals to Key Administration Posts |date=July 31, 2019 |via=National Archives |work=whitehouse.gov |access-date=August 1, 2019 }} and later did so.{{cite web |url=https://www.usna.edu/PAO/Superintendent/bov.php |title= Board of Visitors :: Public Affairs Office :: USNA |author= |date=May 18, 2020 |website=usna.edu |publisher=U.S. Naval Academy |access-date=May 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200504164110/https://www.usna.edu/PAO/Superintendent/bov.php |archive-date=May 4, 2020 |quote=The Board consists of six members appointed by the President, three appointed by the Vice President, four appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one designated by the Senate Armed Services Committee and one designated by the House Armed Services Committee. }} On September 8, 2021, the White House Communications Director confirmed that President Joe Biden sought resignation letters from all 18 former military academy Presidential appointees placed in the final months of the prior administration, which included Spicer, and those who refused would be terminated that evening.{{cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/gma/biden-ousts-conway-spicer-other-221128819.html |title=Biden ousts Conway, Spicer, other Trump appointees from military academy boards |date=September 8, 2021 |access-date=September 9, 2021 }} Spicer's federal lawsuit to challenge his firing from the naval academy board was dismissed in 2022 because "to insulate the plaintiffs from removal would raise serious constitutional issues, as Board members are executive officials..." and the statute governing the panel did not provide removal protections.Vivian Ho. (8 February 2025). "What is the Kennedy Center, and can Trump make himself chairman?." [https://wapo.st/4gB1ICm Washington Post website] Retrieved 10 February 2025.United States District Court, District of Columbia. (11 July 2022). "SEAN M. SPICER et al., Plaintiffs, v. JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., President of…". Spicer v. Biden, 21-cv-2493 (DLF) (D.D.C. Jul. 11, 2022). [https://casetext.com/case/spicer-v-biden-1 CaseText website] Retrieved 10 February 2025.

In August 2019, Spicer was announced as a contestant on season 28 of Dancing with the Stars. This announcement was met with alarm on social media and by many at ABC News. One ABC employee told CNN journalist Oliver Darcy: "It's a slap in the face to those of us who had to deal with his baloney and the consequences of the ongoing lies and disinformation campaign at the White House." Spicer responded by saying that Dancing "is an entertainment show. I look forward to having some fun. And if people are looking for news, I suggest they tune into a news program".{{cite web |title=Spicer fury at ABC News; Inslee exits on Maddow; Cuomo grills Ruddy; ABC debate details; Trump's wild gaggle; Drudge's front page; 'Bombshell' teaser |url=https://us11.campaign-archive.com/?u=47c9040f6ff957a59bd88396e&id=606814f848 |website=us11.campaign-archive.com |publisher=Reliable Sources |access-date=August 23, 2019 |date=August 21, 2019}} On the first installment of this edition of the popular celebrity reality competition, Spicer wore a bright lime green shirt with ruffles while his dancing partner's dress prominently featured pineapples as they engaged in a salsa dance, garnering widespread media coverage.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/17/us/politics/sean-spicer-dancing-with-the-stars.html |title=For Sean Spicer, the Revolving Door Led to a Dance Routine in a Lime Green Shirt |first=Annie |last=Karni |date=September 17, 2019 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=September 18, 2019 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/sean-spicer-on-his-dancing-with-the-stars-debut-attire-it-was-payback-from-everybody.amp |title=Sean Spicer talks about his 'Dancing With The Stars' debut after headline-grabbing first appearance |date=September 17, 2019 |work=Fox News |first=Victor |last=Garcia |access-date=September 18, 2019 }}

In March 2020, Spicer started hosting a political talk show for the channel Newsmax TV called Spicer & Co.{{Cite news |url = https://www.politico.com/news/2020/03/20/sean-spicer-coronavirus-white-house-briefing-139471 |access-date = March 21, 2020 |date = March 20, 2020 |publisher = Politico |last = Perez |first = Juan Jr. |title = Sean Spicer debuts as White House reporter during heated Trump coronavirus briefing }} The show was cancelled in April 2023 when Spicer and his co-host Lyndsay Keith left Newsmax.{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/3939086-sean-spicer-leaves-newsmax/ | title=Sean Spicer leaves Newsmax | date=April 7, 2023 }}

Following the 2021 storming of the United States Capitol, Forbes warned corporations against hiring Spicer and other Trump "propagandists", stating, "Forbes will assume that everything your company or firm talks about is a lie."{{cite news |last1=Lane |first1=Randall |author-link1=Randall Lane (journalist)|title=A Truth Reckoning: Why We're Holding Those Who Lied For Trump Accountable |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/randalllane/2021/01/07/a-truth-reckoning-why-were-holding-those-who-lied-for-trump-accountable/ |access-date=10 January 2021 |work=Forbes}}

Spicer attended the farewell event for President Trump on January 20, 2021, at Joint Base Andrews.{{Cite news |url = https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/20/trump-pledges-we-will-be-back-farewell-event-460675 |title ='We will be back in some form': Trump pledges political comeback at farewell event |work=Politico |date=January 20, 2021 |first=Quint |last=Forgey |access-date=January 20, 2021 }}

On November 13, 2004, Spicer married Rebecca Miller, at the time a television producer, at St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C. Spicer and his wife live in Alexandria, Virginia. They have two children.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/what-happens-when-you-tie-your-career-to-donald-trump-ask-sean-spicer-in-a-few-months/2016/08/16/c492be3a-5f4f-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html |title=What happens when you tie your career to Donald Trump? Ask Sean Spicer in a few months. |last1=Terris |first1=Ben |date=August 16, 2016 |last2=Terris |first2=Ben |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=January 31, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126071111/https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/what-happens-when-you-tie-your-career-to-donald-trump-ask-sean-spicer-in-a-few-months/2016/08/16/c492be3a-5f4f-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html |archive-date=January 26, 2017 }} His wife is senior vice president, communications and public affairs, for the National Beer Wholesalers Association.{{cite news|url=http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a8531830/sean-spencer-white-house-press-secretary |title=Who Is Sean Spicer? 10 Things to Know About Trump's Pick for Press Secretary |first=Kayleigh |last=Roberts |work=Cosmopolitan |date=January 22, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170129010031/http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/a8531830/sean-spencer-white-house-press-secretary/ |archive-date=January 29, 2017 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nbwa.org/content/rebecca-spicer|publisher=National Beer Wholesalers Association|title=Rebecca Spicer|newspaper=Nbwa: America's Beer and Beverage Distributors|date=July 27, 2015|access-date=February 7, 2016|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202020419/https://www.nbwa.org/content/rebecca-spicer|url-status=live}} He is Roman Catholic.{{cite news|author1=J.A.|title=Donald Trump's spokesman quits|url=https://www.economist.com/blogs/democracyinamerica/2017/07/tragic-tale-spicey-0|access-date=July 24, 2017|newspaper=The Economist|date=July 22, 2017}}{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/29/sean-spicer-meets-pope-vatican-242133?lo=ap_b1 |title=Spicer gets his audience with the pope |first=Tara |last=Palmer |quote=A devout Catholic, he told reporters ahead of President Donald Trump's meeting with the pope during his Vatican visit that he was looking forward to meeting the pope and had brought rosary beads to be blessed. |date=August 29, 2017 |work=Politico |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220002901/https://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/29/sean-spicer-meets-pope-vatican-242133?lo=ap_b1 |archive-date=February 20, 2019}}

File:Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer podiums on a NYC street, May 12, 2017.webm

Several commentators have compared Spicer to "Baghdad Bob", Information Minister under Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2017/02/sean-spicer-press-secretary-donald-trump|title=The Agony of Sean Spicer|first=Tina|last=Nguyen|magazine=Vanity Fair|access-date=May 19, 2017|date=February 9, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-sean-spicer-trump-crowd-lies-perspec-0124-20170123-column.html |title='Baghdad Sean' Spicer doubles down on crowd lies |first=Eric |last=Zorn |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=May 19, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223195630/http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-sean-spicer-trump-crowd-lies-perspec-0124-20170123-column.html |archive-date=February 23, 2017 |date=January 23, 2017 }}{{cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2017/03/21/media/sean-spicer-credibility/index.html |title=How Sean Spicer lost his credibility |first=Dylan |last=Byers |date=March 21, 2017 |website=CNNMoney |access-date=May 19, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323013526/http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/21/media/sean-spicer-credibility/index.html |archive-date=March 23, 2017 }}

Spicer's frequently combative press conferences were satirized four times on Saturday Night Live in 2017, with actress Melissa McCarthy playing the role of Spicer.{{cite news|last1=Stableford |first1=Dylan |title=Melissa McCarthy steals the show as a raging Sean Spicer on 'SNL' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/melissa-mccarthy-steals-the-show-as-a-raging-sean-spicer-on-snl-142401746.html |publisher=Yahoo! News |access-date=February 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205151247/https://www.yahoo.com/news/melissa-mccarthy-steals-the-show-as-a-raging-sean-spicer-on-snl-142401746.html |archive-date=February 5, 2017 |date=February 5, 2017 }}{{cite magazine|last1=Robinson |first1=Joanna |title=S.N.L.: Watch Melissa McCarthy's Sean Spicer Return to Hit Donald and Ivanka Trump Where It Hurts |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/02/melissa-mccarth-snl-sean-spicer-video-gum-shoe |magazine=Vanity Fair |access-date=February 12, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170212074437/http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/02/melissa-mccarth-snl-sean-spicer-video-gum-shoe |archive-date=February 12, 2017 |date=February 12, 2017 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/melissa-mccarthy-snl-sean-spicer-easter-bunny-hitler-2017-4 |title=Melissa McCarthy returns to 'SNL' as Sean Spicer in an Easter Bunny costume |newspaper=Business Insider |date=April 16, 2017 |access-date=April 17, 2017 |first=Rebecca |last=Harrington |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170517122207/http://www.businessinsider.com/melissa-mccarthy-snl-sean-spicer-easter-bunny-hitler-2017-4 |archive-date=May 17, 2017 }}{{cite news|last1=Morona|first1=Joey|title=All the times Melissa McCarthy impersonated Sean Spicer, ranked|url=http://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2017/07/melissa_mccarthy_sean_spicer_resigns.html|access-date=July 21, 2017|publisher=Cleveland|date=July 21, 2017}} Her portrayal was described by a staff writer at The Atlantic as "genius", mixing "energy and weaponized hostility".{{cite news|last1=Gilbert |first1=Sophie |title=The Genius of Melissa McCarthy as Sean Spicer on Saturday Night Live |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/02/the-genius-of-melissa-mccarthy-as-sean-spicer-on-saturday-night-live/515715 |magazine=The Atlantic |date=February 5, 2017 |access-date=February 5, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205181713/https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/02/the-genius-of-melissa-mccarthy-as-sean-spicer-on-saturday-night-live/515715/ |archive-date=February 5, 2017 }} Spicer stated that he found the sketches funny, but suggested that McCarthy "could dial back" a bit.{{cite news|last1=Amatulli |first1=Jenna |title=Sean Spicer Responds To Melissa McCarthy's 'Saturday Night Live' Sketch |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sean-spicer-responds-to-melissa-mccarthys-snl-sketch_us_58988795e4b0c1284f26d5ed |work=The Huffington Post |access-date=February 6, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206182643/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sean-spicer-responds-to-melissa-mccarthys-snl-sketch_us_58988795e4b0c1284f26d5ed |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |date=February 6, 2017 }} He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself in Army of the Dead along with Donna Brazile.{{Cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/417708/the-controversial-former-white-house-staffer-who-cameos-in-army-of-the-dead/|title = The Controversial Former White House Staffer Who Cameos in Army of the Dead|date = May 21, 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/army-dead-movie-sean-spicer-donald-trump-explained/|title = Army of the Dead: Sean Spicer's Cameo & Donald Trump Jokes Explained|website = Screen Rant|date = June 5, 2021}}

• White House Fellows

{{Reflist}}

• Julian, Danielle. "Sean Spicer is the News: The Relationship Between Sean Spicer and The White House Press Corps". (Thesis. Auckland University of Technology, 2018.) [https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10292/11936/JulianD.pdf?sequence=3 online]
• McCollough, Christopher J. "Salvaging Sean Spicer: A Case Analysis of the Rise, Fall, and (Attempted) Redemption of a Former White House Press Secretary" Georgia Communication Association Proceedings (2018) pp 47–63 [https://gacomm.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/GCA-Proceedings-2018.pdf#page=47 online]
• Spicer, Sean. The Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President (Simon and Schuster, 2018). Primary source
• Spicer, Sean. Leading America: President Trump's Commitment to People, Patriotism, and Capitalism (Center Street, 2020).

{{Sister project links|auto=yes}}

• {{Official website|https://seanspicer.com/}}
• {{C-SPAN|65475}}
• [https://www.politifact.com/personalities/sean-spicer/statements/by/ Sean Spicer] at PolitiFact

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