White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham, who has not held a press briefing since taking over from former Press Secretary Sarah Sanders last year, said Thursday she can perform her job better one-on-one rather than holding daily events that would allow reporters to grandstand.
"They want their moment on TV so they can peddle their books," Grisham told Fox News' "Fox and Friends." "Maybe off camera...maybe that's better because then the grandstanding won't happen."
Grisham, who was first lady Melania Trump's press secretary before taking over for Sanders, said she talks to members of the media every day.
"In a press briefing, I would allow one reporter from one outlet and they would maybe get one follow-up question," said Grisham. "During my day, I talk to five, six, seven reporters from every outlet and print and radio and online. I talked to, you know, I wouldn't say hundreds, but nearly 100 reporters a day."
Her comments come on the heels of an article in Wednesday's edition of The Washington Post criticizing Grisham, also the White House communications director, for failing to hold press briefings and making various appearances on Fox News, where she has appeared nearly 30 times since August, or more times than all other combined network TV appearances.
Grisham told The Post that she appears on Fox News often because it often asks for her and as the network has "24-hour news," there are "more opportunities for me to be on."
President Donald Trump also has appeared often on Fox News, giving 68 interviews, since he was sworn in, according to a tally posted on Twitter by CBS News White House reporter Mark Knoller.
Both CNN and NBC said they have invited Grisham to appear for interviews, including an invitation this past weekend to appear on the "Today" show, which was turned down.
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Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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