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White House Pushes Back After Reporter Asks Where Spicer Is

June 5, 2017

White House deputy press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders pushed back after a reporter asked where press secretary Sean Spicer was during Monday's daily press briefing.

American Urban Radio Networks' April Ryan asked Sanders where Spicer was that day as Sanders was giving the daily press briefing. Sanders said that Spicer was at work.

"This is part of my job as well," Sanders added.

Sanders said that Spicer has taken on extra duty because the White House currently lacks a communications director.

"He's taking on a little bit of extra duty at this point," Sanders said.

"Has his position changed then?" Ryan asked.

"It's probably upgraded at this point given that we don't have a communications director," Sanders responded.

Ryan continued to ask about Spicer's absence and current position.

"There are a lot of demands on his schedule, particularly given the fact that there's not a communications director, and this is part of my job as well. And when I'm needed, I'll step in," Sanders said.

The answer did not appear to satisfy Ryan.

Former White House communications director Mike Dubke submitted his resignation last month but stayed to help manage communications during President Donald Trump's recent foreign trip.

The media has frequently speculated about the status of Spicer's standing in the Trump administration.