Hence, within twenty-four hours of the inauguration, the president had invented a million or so people who did not exist. He sent his new press secretary, Sean Spicer-whose personal mantra would shortly become You can't make this shit up-to argue his case in a media moment that turned Spicer, quite a buttoned-down political professional, into a national joke, which he seemed destined to never recover from. To boot, the president blamed Spicer for not making the million phantom souls seem real.
Within a day of taking office, the president alleged that a million people attended his inauguration, despite evidence to the contrary. This statement led to press secretary Sean Spicer attempting to defend the claim during a press briefing. His efforts, however, resulted in Spicer becoming the subject of mockery and ridicule, transitioning from a reserved political figure to a figure of national humor.
Even more troubling for Spicer, the president shifted the blame onto him for failing to substantiate the claim about the non-existent attendees, leaving Spicer in a difficult position from which he struggled to recover. This incident not only marked a bizarre moment in Trump's presidency but also foreshadowed the contentious relationship between the media and the White House.
