During his tenure as White House press secretary, Spicer made a number of public statements that were controversial and false[7][8][9] and developed a contentious relationship with theWhite House press corps.[10][11][12] The first such instance occurred on January 21, 2017, the day followingTrump's inauguration. Spicer repeated the claim that crowds atTrump's inauguration ceremony were the largest ever at such an event and that the press had deliberately underestimated the number of spectators.[13][14][15] After this statement was widely criticized, Trump aideKellyanne Conway said that Spicer had presented what she called "alternative facts" regarding the inauguration's attendance numbers.[16]
Spicer resigned as White House Press Secretary on July 21, 2017, although he remained at the White House in an unspecified capacity until August 31.[17][18][19] As of 2026, Spicer is the most recent male to have served as White House Press Secretary. Since leaving the White House, Spicer has published the memoirThe Briefing: Politics, the Press, and the President, appeared as a contestant onseason 28 ofDancing with the Stars, and hosted a political talk show onNewsmax TV.[20][21]
Spicer is the son of Kathryn (née Grossman) and Michael William Spicer (1944–2016).[22] The Spicers were living inPort Washington when Sean was born at North Shore Hospital inManhasset, New York.[3][23] Spicer grew up in theEast Bay area of Rhode Island.[24] His father was an insurance agent and his mother was the department manager (a non-faculty position) in the East Asian studies department atBrown University.[2][25][26]
Spicer is of partial Irish descent,[27] and was raised Catholic.[28] From 1985 to 1989, he attendedPortsmouth Abbey School, aCatholic boarding school in Rhode Island.[29] While in high school, he volunteered for local political campaigns in Rhode Island and continued those activities while at college.[30]
Spicer attendedConnecticut College from 1989 to 1993 and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in government.[31] In college he was a student senator. In April 1993, an article in the student paper,The College Voice, referred to Spicer as "SeanSphincter"; 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 publicationBlats. The incident was later cited as a precursor of his contentious relationship with the media.[32][33]
In 1999, Spicer joined theUnited States Navy Reserve as a public affairs officer; he currently holds the rank of Captain.[40][41] As of December 2016, he was assigned to theJoint Chiefs of Staff's naval reserve contingent inWashington, D.C.,[42] and in 2017 was a member of the Department of Defense Criminal Investigative Task Force.[1]
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.[47] His clients included thegovernment of Colombia, which was then seekinga free trade agreement with the U.S. amid public criticism of itshuman rights record.[48] Spicer worked full-time at the firm until February 2011.[49]
In February 2011, Spicer became the communications director of theRepublican National Committee.[49] 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.[44] In February 2015, he was given an additional role, as chief strategist for the party.[50]
While at the RNC, Spicer was critical of then Republican presidential candidateDonald 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."[51] In July 2015, he released a public criticism of Trump's comments on U.S. SenatorJohn McCain, saying "there is no place in our party or our country for comments that disparage those who have served honorably."[52]
On December 22, 2016, Spicer was named the White House press secretary forDonald Trump.[53] On December 24, he was also named the communications director for the Trump administration after the sudden and unexpected resignation ofJason Miller.[54]
An April 2017Politico/Morning Consult poll showed that Spicer had a nationwidename recognition of 60%, much higher than most other White House staffers and previous press secretaries.[55]
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; stating that they had underestimated the size of the crowds forPresident 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.[56][57]
Spicer stated that the press had altered images of the event to minimize the size of the crowds.[16] 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 precedingsecond inauguration of Barack Obama.[58][59] He also used incorrect figures to claim thatMetro 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.[60] Spicer took no questions after his statement.[56] Later, Spicer defended his previous statements by saying "sometimes we can disagree with the facts".[61] 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.[62]
In response to the briefing, conservative political analystBill Kristol wrote: "It is embarrassing, as an American, to watch this briefing by Sean Spicer from the podium at the White House."[63]Vanity Fair described Spicer's statement as "peppered with lies",[64] andThe 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".[65]Glenn Kessler ofThe 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.[7]
Trump's team defended Spicer's statements. White House chief of staffReince 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".[66] Trump's campaign strategist and counselor,Kellyanne Conway, told NBC'sChuck Todd that Trump's inauguration crowd numbers could not be proved nor quantified and that the press secretary was simply giving "alternative facts".[67] Todd responded by saying, "Alternative facts are not facts. They are falsehoods."[68]
Spicer (behind Trump's shoulder in the corner) during the April 2017Syrian missile strike operation
Two days later on January 23, 2017, Spicer held his first official White House press conference and took questions from reporters.[69][70] 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".[71]
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.[72]
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 staffReince Priebus for recommending Spicer, the network reported. Trump "regrets it every day and blames Priebus", a White House source told CNN.[73][74] His role as temporary communications director was filled byMichael Dubke on March 6, 2017.[75]
On April 11, 2017, Spicer issued a statement in reference to theKhan 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 asHitler who didn't even sink to using chemical weapons."[76][77] Spicer also referred toconcentration camps as "Holocaust centers", drawing more criticism.[78][79]
His remarks were widely criticized, especially given the fact that the timing of the remarks coincided with theJewish holiday ofPassover.[80] Spicer later clarified that he was not trying to deny that Hitler used lethal gas during theHolocaust, instead that he was trying to compare how Assad dropped bombs on population centers to how Hitler used the gas.[81] Amid calls for his resignation, Spicer apologized the next day.[80][82]
As White House press secretary, Spicer had a contentious relationship with the White House press corps.[10][11][12] In February 2017, the White House selectively blocked several news outlets – including the BBC, CNN,The New York Times,Los Angeles Times andPolitico – from an off-camera briefing (or "gaggle") with Spicer, a move that prompted strong objections from the outlets concerned, as well as by theWhite House Correspondents' Association.[83][84][85]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."[85] Reporters from theAssociated Press andTime magazine were admitted to the briefing, but chose not to attend in protest of the exclusion of other journalists.[84][85] In May 2017 Sandra Sanders began to handle some key press briefings.[86]
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 financierAnthony 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.[17] Trump had reportedly been dissatisfied for some time with Spicer's performance as White House Press Secretary.[88] According toThe 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.[18]Sarah Sanders was announced as the new White House Press Secretary the same day.[89]
After several low-profile months, Spicer was reportedly refused contracts to be a paid contributor at any of the five major American TV news networks—ABC News,CBS News,CNN,Fox News, andNBC News—according to a number of anonymous sources, this was due to a "lack of credibility".[90][91][92]
On September 17, 2017, Spicer made a cameo appearance at the 2017Emmy 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".[93] The following week he gave an interview toThe New York Times and appeared onGood Morning America.[94][95] 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 ofspecial prosecutorRobert Mueller.[96]
On July 31, 2019, President Trump announced his intention to appoint Spicer to be a Member of theBoard of Visitors to theUnited States Naval Academy[98] and later did so.[99] On September 8, 2021, theWhite House Communications Director confirmed thatPresident Joe Biden sought resignation letters from all 18 formermilitary academy Presidential appointees placed in the final months of the prior administration, which included Spicer, and those who refused would be terminated that evening.[100] 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.[101][102] This Biden-era legal win that allowed the president to fire certain board members set the stage for President Donald Trump to fire several people who sat on the Kennedy Center board.[103]
In August 2019, Spicer was announced as a contestant onseason 28 ofDancing with the Stars. This announcement was met with criticism onsocial media and by many atABC News.[104] One ABC employee told CNN journalistOliver 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 anddisinformation campaign at the White House." Spicer responded by saying thatDancing "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".[104] During the season premiere, Spicer wore a bright lime green shirt withruffles while his dancing partner's dress prominently featured pineapples as they engaged in asalsa dance, garnering widespread media coverage.[105][106]
In March 2020, Spicer started hosting a political talk show for the channelNewsmax TV calledSpicer & Co.[107] The show was cancelled in April 2023 when Spicer and his co-hostLyndsay Keith left Newsmax.[108]
Following the2021 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."[109]
Spicer attended the farewell event for President Trump on January 20, 2021, atJoint Base Andrews.[110]
Spicer currently serves as a political contributor for cable networkNewsNation, a role he has held since 2023.[111] Spicer is also the co-host of the daily podcastThe Morning Meeting withMark Halperin and Dan Turrentine on the2WAY Network.
Spicer's frequently combative press conferences were satirized four times onSaturday Night Live in 2017, with actressMelissa McCarthy playing the role of Spicer.[120][121][122][123] Her portrayal was described by a staff writer atThe Atlantic as "genius", mixing "energy and weaponized hostility".[124] Spicer stated that he found the sketches funny, but suggested that McCarthy "could dial back" a bit.[125] He also portrayed a fictionalized version of himself inArmy of the Dead along withDonna Brazile.[126][127]
^ab"Born".The Newport Daily News. Newport County, Rhode Island. September 25, 1971. p. 2.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.
^abTed Johnson (July 21, 2017)."Sean Spicer Resigns as White House Press Secretary".Variety.Spicer had been with the administration from the start, but almost immediately had a contentious relationship with the media.
^abKevin Liptak (January 21, 2017)."Reality Check: Sean Spicer hits the media over crowds".CNN.Spicer launched into a tirade against the media Saturday, slamming what he said was unfair reporting of the attendance of President Donald Trump's inauguration, along with other criticisms. Many of the facts he cited, however, are inaccurate.
^@seanspicer (October 3, 2015)."Sean Spicer". Twitter.Archived from the original on February 20, 2017. RetrievedApril 19, 2017.I'm Irish, i drink and like people
^Charlie Savage; Eric Lipton; Gardiner Harris; Michael D. Shearjan (January 23, 2017)."Spicer's first war with the news media: Sad!".The New York Times. Taxpayers Will Defend Trump in Suit Charging Constitutional Violations.
^Ariel Alexovich; Jacqueline Klingebiel."Suite Talk March 12, 2009".Politico.Archived from the original on January 28, 2017. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2017.
^"K Street Files: Colombia Is ... Controversy".Roll Call. September 8, 2009.Archived from the original on January 29, 2017. RetrievedJanuary 25, 2017. "K Street Files: Colombia is controversy,"Roll Call, September 8, 2009; retrieved January 25, 2017.
^"Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer, 4/11/2017, #36".White House. April 11, 2017. Archived fromthe original on May 6, 2017.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.
^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.JSTOR website Retrieved February 10, 2025.
^"Board of Visitors :: Public Affairs Office :: USNA".usna.edu. U.S. Naval Academy. May 18, 2020. Archived fromthe original on May 4, 2020. RetrievedMay 18, 2020.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.
^Vivian Ho. (February 8, 2025). "What is the Kennedy Center, and can Trump make himself chairman?."Washington Post website Retrieved February 10, 2025.
^United States District Court, District of Columbia. (July 11, 2022). "SEAN M. SPICER et al., Plaintiffs, v. JOSEPH R. BIDEN, JR., President of…". Spicer v. Biden, 21-cv-2493 (DLF) (D.D.C. July 11, 2022).CaseText website[dead link] Retrieved February 10, 2025.
^ Haley Chi-Sing (February 8, 2025). "A Biden-era legal win paved the way for Trump's Kennedy Center board firings"Fox News website Retrieved February 25, 2025.
^Palmer, Tara (August 29, 2017)."Spicer gets his audience with the pope".Politico. Archived fromthe original on February 20, 2019.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.
Julian, Danielle. "Sean Spicer is the News: The Relationship Between Sean Spicer and The White House Press Corps". (Thesis. Auckland University of Technology, 2018.)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 47–63online
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).
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