--- title: Spicer Won't Say If Trump Believes Russia Election Meddling description: Sean Spicer declined to definitively answer when asked if President Trump believes Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. canonical: https://time.com/4826069/sean-spicer-donald-trump-russian-interference-2016-election/ author: Alana Abramson article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2017-06-21T00:29:08.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-08T09:19:22.390Z article:section: Politics og:title: Spicer Won't Say If Trump Thinks Russia Interfered in 2016 Election og:description: 16 intelligence agencies believe that the Russians did interfere og:url: https://time.com/4826069/sean-spicer-donald-trump-russian-interference-2016-election/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbbf490bf9ccd0539/6988cd5186f68e26316e4b18/gettyimages-682379228.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Holds Daily Press Briefing og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Spicer Won't Say If Trump Thinks Russia Interfered in 2016 Election twitter:description: 16 intelligence agencies believe that the Russians did interfere twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbbf490bf9ccd0539/6988cd5186f68e26316e4b18/gettyimages-682379228.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 04:59 video:published: 2017-05-30 section: politics topics: White House press briefing, inauguration crowd size, travel ban, wiretapping claims, Russia investigation, Paul Manafort, Michael Flynn, Syria chemical attack, press relations genre: news, press briefing tones: combative, defensive, tense, dismissive emotions: frustration (high), defensiveness (high), amusement (low) sentiment: negative audience: political news followers, policy observers, journalists, voters people: Sean Spicer, Donald Trump, Barack Obama, Martin Luther King Jr., James Comey, Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Vladimir Putin, Adolf Hitler, Kristen, John Roberts organizations: White House, FBI, House Intelligence Committee, Senate Intelligence Committee content_suitability: politics [00:00-04:59]; war [03:26-03:37]; profanity [00:29-00:35] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable ---  # Sean Spicer Won't Say If President Trump Believes Russia Interfered in the 2016 Election > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=e9439a0e-c402-4b9e-8705-c98da7e3c608&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Sean Spicer's Greatest Hits [Watch (HLS stream): Sean Spicer's Greatest Hits](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/Fvh1mgxB.m3u8) (4:59)  _Published 2017-05-30. The Sean Spicer show is back after a brief hiatus. The White House press secretary is set to resume his daily press briefing Tuesday afternoon, after taking a break during President Trump's first trip abroad._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary A White House press briefing led by press secretary Sean Spicer is shown, in which he defends the administration against reporters' questions. Topics include inauguration crowd size, the travel ban, wiretapping claims, Russia contacts involving Paul Manafort and Michael Flynn, and a chemical weapons response in Syria. The exchanges are heated and often interrupted by reporters, and the clip ends with Spicer saying he will return for briefings on Monday. ## Key points - Spicer claims photographs of the inauguration were framed to minimise the crowd on the National Mall and that it was the largest inauguration audience ever. (00:00) - Spicer argues the travel ban label is the media's wording, and says he is not confused when pressed on the President calling it a ban. (00:29) - Spicer says that when the President talked about wiretapping, he meant surveillance, and says it is very possible. (01:40) - Asked whether the White House was aware of contacts between Paul Manafort and Russian operatives, Spicer answers 'No'. (02:11) - Spicer says the facts are that Republicans, Democrats and Obama-appointed career officials have all reached the same conclusion on Russia. (03:00) - Spicer says that if Syria gasses people with a barrel bomb, the President will respond, calling it unacceptable. (03:26) - Spicer says the President is dismayed by a game of 'gotcha' rather than discussion of policies, and asks reporters to have a great weekend. (04:22) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 01:00] Inauguration crowd size and press briefing opens. Spicer opens the briefing by disputing photographs of inauguration crowds and welcomes reporters back. - [01:00 to 02:01] Travel ban and wiretapping questions. Spicer disputes the travel ban label and reporters press him on the President's wiretapping claims. - [02:01 to 03:00] Russia contacts and Manafort questions. Reporters ask about Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort and Russian contacts, and Spicer says the facts are clear. - [03:00 to 04:00] Syria response and interruptions. Spicer says the President will respond to a chemical attack in Syria and the briefing becomes chaotic with reporters shouting questions. - [04:00 to 04:59] Briefing ends with complaints about gotcha questions. Asked about canceling briefings, Spicer complains that reporters play 'gotcha' and then ends the session. ## Key quotes - [00:00] Sean Spicer: "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration period." - [01:40] Sean Spicer: "When we talked about wiretapping, he meant surveillance." - [03:00] Sean Spicer: "Republican, Democrat, Obama- appointee, career have all come to the same conclusion." - [03:26] Sean Spicer: "I think you will see a response from this president." - [04:22] Sean Spicer: "We come out here and try to do everything we can to provide you and the American people with what he's doing on their behalf." ## Questions this video answers - Was the inauguration crowd the largest ever, as the White House claims? [00:00] - Is the President's travel ban a ban, and does the President still have confidence in FBI Director Comey? [00:29] - What did the President mean by wiretapping at Trump Tower? [01:40] - Was the White House aware of contacts between Paul Manafort and Russian operatives? [02:11] - Will the White House respond to a chemical attack in Syria? [03:26] - Is the White House considering canceling the daily press briefings? [04:22] ## Content suitability - politics [00:00-04:59]: Entire clip is a political press briefing discussing White House policy and controversies. - war [03:26-03:37]: Discussion of a chemical weapons attack in Syria and a possible military response. - profanity [00:29-00:35]: Heated exchanges with reporters; no strong profanity identified in the transcript.  by [Alana Abramson](https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Jun 21, 2017 12:29 AM UTC The Sean Spicer show is back after a brief hiatus. The White House press secretary is set to resume his daily press briefing Tuesday afternoon, after taking a break during President Trump's first trip abroad.  by [Alana Abramson](https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/)  ## Alana Abramson Jun 21, 2017 12:29 AM UTC [White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer](http://time.com/4824455/sean-spicer-white-house-press-secretary/) declined to definitively answer when asked if [President Donald Trump](http://time.com/4825615/donald-trump-approval-rating-pew-survey/) believes Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. “I have not sat down and talked to him about that specific thing,” Spicer told reporters at the daily press briefing Tuesday. “Obviously we’ve been dealing with a lot of other issues today. I’d be glad to touch base.” When a reporter followed up by noting that 16 intelligence agencies believe that the Russians did interfere, and former FBI Director [James Comey](http://time.com/4812412/comey-testimony-trump-vindication/) said as much in his congressional testimony, Spicer reiterated that he couldn’t answer because he hadn’t spoken with Trump. “I have not sat down and asked him about his specific reaction to them, so I’d be glad to touch base and get back to you,” he said. In the past, Trump has referred to the investigation into Russian interference as “fake news.” A reporter asked Spicer about this characterization, but did not get a response. > [](https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/835916511944523777) Trump has also repeatedly referred to investigations into possible collusion between his associates and Russia as a “witch hunt.” Spicer’s response comes amid reports that he will [leave the briefing ](http://time.com/4824455/sean-spicer-white-house-press-secretary/?iid=sr-link1)podium to become Senior Adviser for Communications, although nothing has been finalized yet. “It’s no secret we’ve had a couple vacancies, including our communications director is gone for a while,” Spicer said Tuesday when asked about a potential role change, explaining that the White House has been seeking advice and meeting with people that could help the administration. “We’re always looking for ways to do a better job of articulating the President’s message and his agenda, and we’ll continue to have those discussions internally, he told reporters. “When we have an announcement of a personnel nature we’ll let you know.” ## Transcript [00:00] Photographs of the inaugural proceedings were [00:02] intentionally framed in a way to minimise the enormous [00:05] support that had gathered on the National mall. This [00:07] was the largest audience to ever witness an [00:09] inauguration period. Good [00:14] afternoon everyone. Welcome back. I can sense the [00:16] love in the room. Yes, I believe that we have to be [00:19] honest with the American people. I think sometimes we [00:21] can disagree with the facts. I mean just the other day, [00:23] he sat down with Martin Luther King Jr. I would call him [00:26] a civil rights leader. His dad was the civil rights leader. [00:29] Sean, Sean I have a couple more questions- You get [00:31] one more. That's a ridic, you're [00:35] basically, okay Kristen we're going to end this right [00:37] now. Hunter, Hunter, no. And then, this [00:42] one is the, I've got the '13 here as well or the 2017. It [00:48] is literally 100 % the same. Well, first of all, it's [00:52] not a travel ban. He's using the words that the media [00:54] is using, but at the end of the day, it can't, hold on, [00:58] hold on, hold on. It can't be. It's his words. The [01:00] President himself Called it a ban. I understand. Is he [01:02] confused or are you confused? No, I'm not confused. [01:05] That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Okay, this is [01:08] silly. Okay, next. Attack on- Okay, you don't get to just [01:10] yell out questions. We're gonna raise our hand like big [01:12] boys and girls. This is government, this is not, and I [01:16] think that part of the reason the visual is important is [01:19] that when you actually look at the difference You [01:22] realize this is what big government does .>> Just [01:24] gonna say here your pin �� s upside down. John [01:27] Roberts is always helping me with the fashion tips. Its [01:29] still upside down. Dont make me make that podium [01:33] move. [ LAUGHTER ] I have heard this stuff. No, no, [01:35] hold on- no evidence of wiretapping at Trump Tower [01:38] so now you �� ve had the House Intelligence [01:40] Commitee and the the Senate Intelligence Commitee [01:40] ->> no, no actually here is this quote Johnathan. No, [01:43] here is the direct quote I thin it's very possible end [01:46] quote. When we talked about wiretapping, he meant [01:48] surveillance. [ CROSSTALK ] For a guy who has zero [01:52] intelligence class. [ LAUGH ] [01:58] [ CROSSTALK ] Does the President still have complete [02:01] confidence in FBI Director Comey? There's no reason to [02:04] believe he doesn't at this time. But even General Flynn [02:07] was a volunteer of the campaign, and then obviously [02:11] there's been discussion of Paul Manafort who played a [02:13] very limited role. Was the White House aware of any [02:15] contacts between Paul Manafort and Russian [02:16] operatives or suspected Russian operatives? No [02:16] [ INAUDIBLE ] Well [02:21] first I think your headlines are bad. I'm glad to rewrite, [02:25] I'd be glad to if you'd like, if you guys are looking for [02:27] some help. Are you looking for a job? Does the [02:32] President stand by statement that President Obama is [02:34] a bad or sick guy? I think the president's tweets stand [02:37] for themselves. I think there's a huge appetite for tax [02:40] return, tax reform. No, no we don't have that. You've [02:44] got Russia. If the president puts Russian salad [02:47] dressing on his salad tonight, somehow that's a [02:49] Russian connection. I'm sorry that that disgusts you. [02:52] You're shaking your head. I appreciate it but [02:56] understand this, that at some point, the facts are what [02:58] they are, and every single person who has been [03:00] briefed on this situation With respect to the situation [03:04] with Russia, Republican, Democrat, [03:07] Obama- appointee, career have all come to the same [03:10] conclusion. At some point, April, you're going to have [03:13] to take no for an answer, with respect to whether or [03:15] not there was collusion. April. I wanna thank you, Sean. [03:19] How are you today? I'm fine. And how are you? [03:23] Fantastic. [ LAUGH ] [ LAUGH ] the answer is that if you [03:26] gas a baby, if you put a barrel bomb into innocent [03:30] people. I think you will see a response from this [03:33] president. That is unacceptable. Someone as [03:37] despicable as Hitler, who didn't even sink to [03:41] using chemical weapons. I [03:48] think I got this but thank you. Are you sure? Maybe. [03:52] Alright, thanks man, I'll see you in a minute. [ LAUGH ] [03:53] Hold on. Alright, that was cool. [ LAUGH ] Alright, that [03:53] was cool. [ LAUGH ] Sean! Sean! Sean! Sean! Sean! [03:53] Come on, Sean! Sean! What about the Putin call? Sean! [03:53] Sit right here, wait, no one leaves. No one leaves, sit. [03:55] Let's see, sit and [04:00] wait. Let's see. [ CROSSTALK ] [04:22] considering canceling the daily press briefings? I think [04:25] he's a little dismayed, as well as a lot of people, that [04:28] we come out here and try to do everything we can to [04:31] provide you and the American people with what he's [04:33] doing on their behalf. and yet, we see time and time [04:36] again an attempt to parse every little word and make it [04:39] more of a game of " gotcha" as opposed to really [04:43] Figure out what the policies are? Why something is [04:45] being pursued or what the update is on this and I think [04:48] that's where there's a lot of dismay and I don't thin is [04:50] something just alone the president feels. Thank you [04:53] guys have a great weekend see you every monday [04:54] thank you, goodbye ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4826069/sean-spicer-donald-trump-russian-interference-2016-election/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4826069/sean-spicer-donald-trump-russian-interference-2016-election/"},"headline":"Sean Spicer Won't Say If President Trump Believes Russia Interfered in the 2016 Election","datePublished":"2017-06-21T00:29:08.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-08T09:19:22.390Z","description":"\"I have not sat down and talked to him about that specific thing\"","url":"https://time.com/4826069/sean-spicer-donald-trump-russian-interference-2016-election/","keywords":["White House","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbbf490bf9ccd0539/6988cd5186f68e26316e4b18/gettyimages-682379228.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Alana Abramson","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/alana-abramson/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltbbf490bf9ccd0539/6988cd5186f68e26316e4b18/gettyimages-682379228.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Holds Daily Press Briefing","caption":"White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer Holds Daily Press Briefing","creditText":"Win McNamee—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/white-house/","name":"White House"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4826069/sean-spicer-donald-trump-russian-interference-2016-election/","name":"Sean Spicer Won't Say If President Trump Believes Russia Interfered in the 2016 Election"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Sean Spicer's Greatest Hits","description":"The Sean Spicer show is back after a brief hiatus. 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