Donald Trump’s first White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, has cautioned the US President against focusing too heavily on appearance and political loyalty when selecting his next spokesperson after Katie Zacharia’s departure from the role in just five days.
Spicer defended Zacharia’s ability to support the administration’s agenda but said the responsibilities of a White House press secretary extended beyond communicating the president’s political message. “I caution the White House and the president, in particular, for just focusing on that part of the duties,” he said, referring to the need to consider other responsibilities associated with the position.
The briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, during which she took questions from three reporters, all representing conservative-leaning or Trump-friendly outlets.
Spicer said supporting the administration’s “America First” agenda was only one part of the job, which also requires handling interactions with journalists, coordinating with government departments and working with external stakeholders. “You’re talking about being the point person for the government of the United States through all the agencies and the departments, coordinating with outside stakeholders in Congress, and I don’t think some people fully appreciate that aspect of the job,” he said. She also said she was not acting as a lawyer or offering legal advice during her media appearances. Zacharia said she had not been asked about the examination before her appointment. Earlier reporting noted: Spicer said Trump should consider the skills needed for the role instead of focusing only on a person’s support for his policies. Earlier reporting noted: Spicer defended Zacharia and said she “does a great job of fighting for the America First agenda”. However, he said that looks and loyalty were only “about 20 percent” of the job. “I caution the White House and the president, in particular, for just focusing on that part of the duties,” Spicer said.
Her delivery, while discussing the president and his administration’s achievements, drew criticism. Zacharia maintained that she had worked in international transaction law and argued that describing herself as a lawyer was appropriate when providing legal analysis. The issue drew questions from Fox News host Sean Hannity, who asked why she had not simply explained that she had attended law school but had not passed the bar exam. Spicer served as Trump’s press secretary during the early months of his first administration before resigning after approximately six months. His comments highlight the responsibilities associated with the position as the president prepares to select another spokesperson following Zacharia’s brief tenure.
Earlier reporting noted: Sean Spicer, Donald Trump’s first White House press secretary, has warned the US President against focusing on looks while choosing someone to replace Katie Zacharia, who lasted five days in the job.
