Sean Spicer blames attention-seeking, 'B-rate reporters' for the demise of White House briefings

Sean Spicer speaks during a White House press briefing in May 2017. Photo / Olivier Douliery, Bloomberg

Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who was lampooned on Saturday Night Live for his combative daily press briefings, on Wednesday defended the White House's decision to all but do away with them.

During an appearance on Fox News, Spicer blamed "B-rate" White House reporters for using the televised briefings to get attention.

"They're making the right call on this," Spicer said of his successors in the White House press office. "I think that the briefing turned into a circus, where you created a bunch of YouTube stars that were B-rate reporters to begin that had gotten no recognition in the past."

Trump's current White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has been told "not to bother" with the briefings. Photo / Al Drago, Bloomberg

Spicer's comments came a day after President Donald Trump said on Twitter that he told current White House press secretary Sarah Sanders "not to bother" with press briefings because he believes that reporters are rude to her and that most members of the media will not cover the administration fairly.

Sanders has not provided an on-camera briefing for more than a month, including the duration of the partial government shutdown.

Spicer argued that the White House has better ways to get information to the public.

"It's about the conduct (of reporters)," he said. "They want to make it into a circus. They want to make themselves stars. They want to get viral videos. I get that. But the White House's job is to provide information to the public and the media, and they can do so in much more efficient ways."