White House press secretary Sean Spicer has told a roomful of reporters that "our intention is never to lie to you," although sometimes the Trump administration may "disagree with the facts."
Spicer's first full press briefing was closely watched on Monday following a weekend statement about President Donald Trump's inauguration audience that included incorrect assertions.
After White House counsellor Kellyanne Conway received wide social media attention for her explanation that Spicer had presented "alternative facts," Monday's briefing was televised live on CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC and, for a time, even ABC.
Meanwhile, ABC announced that anchor David Muir will interview Trump for a one-hour prime-time special on Wednesday.
Spicer tried to defuse tension by opening with a self-deprecating joke about his lack of popularity, and his 78-minute session was wide-ranging and mostly substantive. He corrected one disputed statement from Saturday, defended another and expressed some frustration regarding how the new Trump administration feels about its news coverage.
Asked for a pledge not to lie, Spicer assented, saying, "I believe we have to be honest with the American people." He said he had received incorrect information about Inauguration day ridership on the Washington Metro system when he initially claimed the system was used more Friday than for Barack Obama's 2013 inauguration.
"There are times when you tweet something out or write a story and you publish a correction," he said. "That doesn't mean you were trying to deceive readers or the American people, does it? I think we should be afforded the same opportunity."
Spicer didn't back down from his claim that Trump's inauguration was the most-seen ever, clarifying that he was including people who watched online.
The new press secretary - who took no questions Saturday - drew a laugh when he said he'd stay at the podium for as long as the reporters wanted him there, and he nearly did.
"I want to make sure we have a healthy relationship," he said.
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