White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders appeared on ABC's "The View" on Wednesday and got into a debate with the show's hosts about President Donald Trump's contentious relationship with the media.
"The president has said he's at war with the fake news media. We can agree that this hostile dynamic doesn't serve the American people," host Sara Haines said. "What do you think is on the responsibility of the administration and people like yourself to help on your end to mend these fences?"
"I think going back you look at every administration and you're always going to have a bit of friction between the press corps and the White House," Sanders said. "We have seen that escalate in this administration. I think there is responsibility on both sides."
Sanders then detailed what that responsibility entails.
"We have to be forthcoming, honest, that's our obligation to the American people. But it's also journalists' obligation to present facts, not opinions," she said. "It's the American people's ability to take those facts and decide where they want to come down on an issue."
Haines argued it is unfair to journalists to slam all news media for individual offenses, saying, "I think you need to say we read this article and that is problematic, because there are like thousands of us and we can only do our part individually."
"I think that goes both ways. The media often characterizes all Republicans, all conservatives, all Democrats," Sanders responded.
Co-host Joy Behar then joined the debate, accusing Trump of lying 95 percent of the time that he speaks.
"Is the media not supposed to report on the fact that 95 percent of what he says is a lie?" Behar asked Sanders, drawing applause from the audience.
"The problem with that, Joy, is that you're doing exactly what we're talking about; you're pushing a false narrative," Sanders said. "Ninety-five percent of what the president says is not a lie."
"It's from PolitiFact, from Politico. It's not just the dreaded New York Times. It's other outlets that say it, five percent of his statements are true. Five percent," Behar said, to more applause.
"I feel for you, I feel sorry for you, that you have to go out and defend those lies every day," Behar continued.
"What do you say to the American people when you have a boss that engages in untruths?" host Sunny Hostin asked.
"I know that is simply not accurate and I think that's one of the dangers we have right now is we're pushing so many false narratives every day," Sanders said. "We're creating false perceptions about the president. And, frankly, inhibiting his ability to succeed. I think America should want him to succeed. He is the president whether they voted for him or not, and I think we have to get behind him."