Reports: Devout Catholic Sean Spicer Excluded From Meeting With The Pope
- 7 years ago
During President Trump’s visit with the Pope on Wednesday, one top member of his administration was noticeably absent from the larger group meeting.
During President Trump’s visit with the Pope on Wednesday, one top member of his administration was noticeably absent from the larger group meeting, notes Politico.
While the communications department was represented by Trump loyalists Hope Hicks and Dan Scavino, White House press secretary Sean Spicer--a practicing Catholic--was reportedly left behind due to strict space limitations.
According to CNN, Spicer “was informed before the meeting there wasn't room for him on the roster.”
An inside source also weighed in on his absence by telling the news outlet, “Wow. That's all he wanted.”
While the unnamed person perceived the move as a slight, a Politico report described it as “in line with a lower-key role the press secretary has been playing during the president’s nine-day, five-country tour.”
Spicer may have been the highest-profile Catholic on Trump’s team who was present but not able to meet the Pope; White House counselor Kellyanne Conway is said to have remained in Washington, D.C. while chief strategist Steve Bannon returned to the U.S. after visiting Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, those who ended up making the cut included first lady Melania Trump, first daughter Ivanka Trump, her husband and senior adviser Jared Kushner, secretary of state Rex Tillerson and national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, among others.
The New York Times is reporting that the visit went relatively smoothly despite sharp differences between the Pope and Trump on issues such as climate change.
During President Trump’s visit with the Pope on Wednesday, one top member of his administration was noticeably absent from the larger group meeting, notes Politico.
While the communications department was represented by Trump loyalists Hope Hicks and Dan Scavino, White House press secretary Sean Spicer--a practicing Catholic--was reportedly left behind due to strict space limitations.
According to CNN, Spicer “was informed before the meeting there wasn't room for him on the roster.”
An inside source also weighed in on his absence by telling the news outlet, “Wow. That's all he wanted.”
While the unnamed person perceived the move as a slight, a Politico report described it as “in line with a lower-key role the press secretary has been playing during the president’s nine-day, five-country tour.”
Spicer may have been the highest-profile Catholic on Trump’s team who was present but not able to meet the Pope; White House counselor Kellyanne Conway is said to have remained in Washington, D.C. while chief strategist Steve Bannon returned to the U.S. after visiting Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, those who ended up making the cut included first lady Melania Trump, first daughter Ivanka Trump, her husband and senior adviser Jared Kushner, secretary of state Rex Tillerson and national security adviser, Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, among others.
The New York Times is reporting that the visit went relatively smoothly despite sharp differences between the Pope and Trump on issues such as climate change.