After White House press secretary Sean Spicer falsely stated that President Donald Trump's inauguration ceremony had the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, social media was set ablaze with reporters and Twitter users alike weighing in on the blatant fabrication.
Though most mentions of the incident came in the form of sharp criticism or mockery, former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer had a soft spot for Spicer's position. Fleischer tweeted about it on Saturday, showing empathy toward Spicer and offering a reason for the easily refutable claim he made.
"This is called a statement you're told to make by the President. And you know the President is watching," he said. "So, while press is stunned & can't believe it, Sean is getting praised by his boss & co-workers now. MSM is from Venus. WH is from Mars."
This is called a statement you're told to make by the President. And you know the President is watching.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 21, 2017
So, while press is stunned & can't believe it, Sean is getting praised by his boss & co-workers now. MSM is from Venus. WH is from Mars.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 21, 2017
After mentioning Spicer was merely doing his job, Fleischer also defended Spicer's attack on the media for their portrayal of Trump's inauguration attendance. Spicer lambasted reporters on Saturday for comparing photos of the crowd to that of former President Barack Obama's 2009 crowd and "intentionally framing" them to look like there were less people.
President Trump is disputing how many people attended his inauguration. We had experts assess the crowd size. https://t.co/B5olahGgQc pic.twitter.com/5fFWJHJ3Jd
— NYT Graphics (@nytgraphics) January 22, 2017
Fleischer again defended Spicer's point on Sunday, saying, "Crucial question: what time were the two pictures taken? Some in my feed say pic on right was taken at 9:30 am. I'm sure TV has time code."
Crucial question: what time were the two pictures taken? Some in my feed say pic on right was taken at 9:30am. I'm sure TV has time code. https://t.co/JDJJl7mZVu
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 22, 2017
But Fleischer later clarified while he doesn't think the press was treated fairly, he believes their indignant response is entirely hypocritcal. "Yesterday's presser leaves me uncomfortable and concerned. The press is right 2b upset. But why is MSM more angry over faulty Trump Admin remarks re crowd estimates than when O Admin. blamed Libya attack on YouTube video??"
(1/2) Yesterday's presser leaves me uncomfortable and concerned. The press is right 2b upset.
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 22, 2017
(2/2) But why is MSM more angry over faulty Trump Admin remarks re crowd estimates than when O Admin. blamed Libya attack on YouTube video??
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 22, 2017
Fleischer was referring to the 2012 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, when then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, then-U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice, and even Obama himself blamed the terrorist attack on an anti-Muslim YouTube video because it was "offensive."
Fleischer served as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2003.
