White House press secretary Sean Spicer spoke up Monday for the media — refuting President Donald Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon's blast that the press is "the opposition party" and should "keep its mouth shut."
"The press plays a very healthy role in democracy, no question about it," Spicer told an audience of college students at George Washington University's School of Media and Public Affairs, Politico reported.
But he added: "They're not the only game in town anymore."
When asked by former CNN Washington bureau chief Frank Sesno on whether he agreed with Bannon's view of the press, Spicer replied: "No," but added, "I'm not disagreeing that he's got a point. That's his view."
"Steve has worked really hard with the president, during the campaign and the transition, to implement some really great ideas and policies that are helping Americans," Spicer said, Politico reported.
"A lot of times, when you pick up the paper or stare up at the TV, and you see the headlines and the chyrons, and you realize they're not even being straight, it's unbelievably disappointing."
But he also admitted his own missteps in his first meeting with the media the day after Trump's inauguration, where he scolded the press about the coverage of the crowd at the event — and took no questions.
"I probably should have taken questions that day," he told the audience, adding he also had second thoughts about his ill-fitting gray suit that day, Politico reported.
"I looked at my suit choice and made some changes there," he said. "I get plenty of fashion tips now."
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