The long rumored White House staff shake-up, which began quietly with the resignation of Communications Director Mike Dubke, is not expected to go too deep into the Trump PR operation or nick spokesman Sean Spicer, according to insiders.
A key West Wing adviser said that Spicer’s job isn’t threatened and he remains well liked by President Trump and his top team.
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And Tuesday’s planned press briefing by Spicer is meant to reinforce that.
“Spicer isn’t going anywhere despite the intense speculation and this briefing is designed to drive home that point,” said the adviser.
“People need to get over the fact that he’s staying put,” added the insider.
While plans to put a brake on the daily news briefings have been described as a “downgrading” of Spicer’s job, it’s a practice similar to some past administrations that gave regular, but not always daily briefings, taking Mondays or Fridays off, for example.
And another Trump adviser said that doing more off-camera briefings is an attempt to stop the “grandstanding” by reporters, and end the reality show feel of the events.
“The White House will likely do the on-camera press briefings when it serves them best and right now that means doing them a lot less,” said the adviser.
The televising of the daily briefings began during former President Bill Clinton’s administration and it is something that his spokesman, Mike McCurry, has often said he regrets. He recently explained to Politico:
“The daily briefing has become less than helpful and I bear responsibility for that because I let it become a televised event. It should not be … It should be embargoed until completion and not carried ‘live’ except in unusual circumstances … like real news happening.” Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
