The visit to Israel contained some positively spun moments with the Netanyahu's with a backdrop of the smoldering furor over the President's having leaked confidential information to the Russians that pointed directly to Israel. Spicer didn't even touch that topic.
Next, Spicer reminded that the President scolded NATO about ponying up, but that his pushing the members worked because now they say they can do more without the US? Oh, success. Germany's Merkel claimed that American leadership is no more, thanks to Donald Trump. Another victory for The White House, according to Spicer.
As for the top questions about Russians and the Trump campaign, and about Jared Kushner's talking with Russian bankers and to the Russians about setting up off-channel communications, Spicer cast those as being in the realm of leakage. Where there are leaks, there are no questions, nor answers with one caveat.
That is when the President Tweets a quote from Fox News that is based on a leak, which might be OK.
"Spicer gets grilled about Kushner, Trump's trip in daily press briefing
50 Mins Ago
Breaking News"
http://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/30/watch-sean-spicer-gives-daily-white-house-press-briefing.htmlIf this is how The White House plans to conduct press conferences, they can only hold up a sign that reads: Bullshit, bullshit, bullshit.
Sean Spicer
The White House
No firm denial on Kushner-Russia allegation
ReplyDeleteThere was no firm denial by Spicer of the central allegation against Kushner: that he had sought to establish a private line of communication with the Kremlin before Trump took office.
The press secretary did knock media reports for not being based on named sources. He also noted that senior figures in the administration, including national security adviser H.R. McMaster, had suggested in general terms that backchannel communications could be useful in international diplomacy.
But Spicer didn't explicitly say that the reports were wrong.
His attempt to cast aspersions on the reporting while not directly contradicting it led to some of the most heated moments of the news conference — especially in Spicer’s exchanges with his first two questioners, Philip Rucker of The Washington Post and Francesca Chambers of the Daily Mail.
When Rucker asked if Trump approved of Kushner’s reported actions, Spicer insisted, “You’re asking if he approves of an action that is not a confirmed action.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/335700-the-memo-five-takeaways-from-spicers-briefing?rnd=1496182395