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Prior to 2017, my knowledge of White House press briefings came entirely from The West Wing. I thought fictional press secretary CJ Cregg's collegial relationship with the White House press corps was typical. Oh how wrong I was -- at least for the Trump administration.
A hostile relationship between the press and the White House emerged as soon as Sean Spicer took the podium in January 2017 and continued after his July resignation and the appointment of the more restrained Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Throughout the year, the antagonistic briefings have ranged from absurd to infuriating.
SEE ALSO:Aidy Bryant kills it on 'SNL' as Sarah Huckabee Sanders at a White House press conferenceThe atmosphere at the briefings is a symptom of Trump's ongoing feud with the press. His attempts to undermine the credibility of certain outlets have dominated his Twitter feed for the last year, and contributed to a crisis of confidence of the media. As a result, Sanders' routine dismissal as "ridiculous" of credible questions about the administration's stance on everything from the legacy of slavery to Russian collusion mirrors Trump's own distanced relationship from reality.
Spicer's and Sanders' respective attempts to control media coverage has been theatrical in its own right. But the reporter-press secretary shouting matches, the obvious stunts, awkward moments, and straight up bungles have dominated news cycles and the public's attention.
So in honor of a year of squabbles, misinformation, empty words, SNL spoofs, and incredulity, here are the top White House press briefing moments of 2017. God bless the free press.
1. Spicer used his first White House press briefing ever to exaggerate Trump's inauguration crowd size
In a rebuttal of reports about Trump's lackluster crowd size, Spicer started off his career with honesty and transparency by saying "this was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration - period."
Two days later, when hard numbers that ran counter to his claims came out, Spicer gave the totally not 1984-esque response "sometimes we can disagree with the facts." Way to set the tone, Sean!
2. The White House barred multiple outlets from a press briefing
Trump called the press "the enemy of the American people" on Twitter on February 17 and further lambasted the press at a February 24 speech he gave at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Secretary Spicer doubled down on his boss's remarks by banning a group of news organizations -- CNN, the New York Times, the Los Angeles Timesand Politico-- from a briefing "gaggle" (an on-the-record, but not broadcast, press briefing). They instead invited conservative outlets like Breitbartand the Washington Times.
3. Spicer berated veteran reporter April Ryan for shaking her head
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In March, the Washington Bureau Chief for American Urban Radio Networks April Ryan asked Secretary Spicer about the White House's connection with Russia. Spicer dismissed the question by saying, "if the president puts Russian salad dressing on his salad tonight, somehow that's a Russian connection." Apparently Ryan shook her head while recording that substantive and considered answer for the record -- which Spicey really didn't like.
"Please stop shaking your head again," Spicer said to Ryan.
Thank goodness April Ryan paid no attention to Spicer's scolding; her reactions have become legendary, and perfectly capture what we're all thinking, including her response Tuesday to Sarah Huckabee Sanders' denial of sexist undertones in Trump's tweet about Senator Kristen Gillibrand.
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4. Spicer claimed that Hitler didn't use chemical weapons
In an attempt to criticize Russia for its alliance with Syria, Sean Spicer said "you had someone as despicable as Hitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons."
In fact, the Nazi regime did use chemical weapons. Spicer apologized in his next briefing, and went on a media tour to clarify and apologize for his remarks. But this comment sticks out both for its ignorance of history, and for insidiously playing into the rhetoric of holocaust deniers.
5. Spicer banned cameras from press briefings
Maybe he was feeling a little bit sensitive -- Melissa McCarthy was regularly skewering Sean Spicer in her impression of him on Saturday Night Live-- but in June, Sean Spicer attempted to regain control of his press room by banning all video recording. CNNeven brought in their sketch artist to document the briefings, which was sort of a laugh/cry low point.
Spicer resigned less than a month after the ban. And so, ladies and gentleman, please welcome to the stage.... Sarah Huckabee Sanders!
6. Sanders read a Trump fan letter from a 9-year-old named "Pickle"
In the letter, Dylan aka "Pickle," asked Trump questions like "how old are you," "how much money do you have," and "why don't people like you?" (to which Sanders answered 'I don't know, Dylan.') But some speculated it was largely intended as a distraction: the letter was dated nearly two months before the late July briefing -- which just happened to be the administration's first encounter with the press after Trump tweeted out his "transgender ban."
7. Anthony Scaramucci briefly helmed the Trump press ship
Anthony Scaramucci -- aka The Mooch -- resigned barely a week after he took the White House Communications Director job. But luckily for us, during that time, the previously unknown, absolutely bonkers hot head, managed to preside over a press briefing -- in which he really delivered the farcical goods. Highlights include inflating Trump's golf record, because why not. Enjoy this one, folks.
8. We were introduced to MAGAnomics
White House budget director Mick Mulvaney revealed his planned for sustained three percent economic growth at a White House briefing, complete with -- hold onto your hats, folks -- a poster board presentation.
Analysts have characterized the plan as a mathematically impossible "fantasy," but that's beside the point. What made this presser amazing was the clear attempt at ~branding~ a new economic policy, a la Reaganomics -- and its floundering failure. Have you heard this term used widely, let alone ever again? Didn't think so.
9. Stephen Miller got in a shouting match with reporter Jim Acosta
Another guest appearance highlight: Trump adviser Stephen Miller, known as the architect of Trump's "Muslim ban" and immigration policy, took the podium in August in order to answer questions about said, erm, "policy." But the briefing quickly dissolved into a fight with CNN reporter Jim Acosta. Miller said the "give me your huddled masses" poem on the Statue of Liberty has nothing to do with America because it was "added later."
10. Sarah Huckabee Sanders tried to talk her way out of John Kelly’s slavery comments
After Trump's Chief of Staff John Kelly opined that "the civil war was caused by a lack of ability to compromise," it was up to good ol' Sarah Huckabee Sanders to walk back the comments (well, sorta).
"What is the definition of compromise, as it relates to slavery and the civil war?" asked reporter April Ryan. "I am not going to re-litigate the Civil War," said Sanders in a non-answer.
When Ryan asked whether the administration thinks "slavery was wrong," Sanders responded, "I think it is disgusting and absurd to suggest that anyone inside this building would support slavery."
Where's the straight up "no," though?
11. As a Thanksgiving treat, Sanders made journalists say what they were thankful for before they could ask a question
Is this nice, patronizing, or totally freaking weird? Maybe all of the above.
Sanders started out the exercise by taking a swipe at her less-than-amiable relationship with the press. "I'm clearly thankful for all of you," Sanders said, before adding the caveat "in all seriousness..."
This could have been cute and funny. If, ya know, the way this administration undermines, delegitimizes, and shuts out the press wasn't constantly in the back of our minds.
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We can't wait to see what 2018 has in store...
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