It Looks Like Sean Spicer Could Get Fired

After a rough couple of months in office, President Trump is reportedly considering a significant shakeup of his staff. Nobody knows if and when that possible shakeup will happen, but there are already some signs that Sean Spicer might be fired. The beleaguered White House press secretary has been the target of derision ever since he spent his first press conference vociferously defending Trump's inaugural crowd size. Now, there's reason to think Spicer may be on the chopping block sooner rather than later. Bustle has reached out to the White House for comment.

Politico reported on Wednesday that Trump is supposedly thinking about scaling back Spicer's "public role" in the administration, and the New York Times reported that Trump is allegedly considering dismissing Spicer altogether. In fact, one senior White House official reportedly told Politico that Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders might soon be giving more of the White House's daily press briefings in lieu of Spicer. At the same time, however, two White House officials also told Politico that Trump allegedly thinks Spicer could be treated more fairly and doesn't want to throw him off the deep end. To them, this doesn't suggest Spicer will be fired. Instead, it may simply hint he'll do less press briefings. Again, Bustle has reached out to the White House for comment.

If the story is true, firing Spicer wouldn't be an illogical decision. On a few occasions, he has created controversy and embarrassment where none existed before, thus bringing more scrutiny to a White House that's already drowning in scandal.

In April, he incorrectly stated that Adolf Hitler "didn’t even sink to using chemical weapons" against Jews, a patently false claim that drew bipartisan criticism. Shortly before Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, Spicer claimed that the president had "confidence" in the director. Later, Spicer explained that Trump canned Comey "in part based on the recommendation" of the deputy attorney general — even though Trump himself, days earlier, had said that he was "going to fire regardless of recommendation." And let's not forget the whole hiding-among-the-bushes incident.

In the days surrounding the Comey firing, Spicer wasn't in Washington. He was on Naval reserve duty, and as a result, ended up missing out on the press briefings during one of the most consequential weeks of Trump's presidency. Instead, Sanders filled in for him; some saw this as a "test run" for Sanders, should she eventually replace Spicer. However, the White House has not officially said anything to suggest that's the case. It's simply speculation. Since then, Spicer has given several briefings — but, bizarrely, he's refused to be filmed for some of them, instead holding "audio only" briefings.

Does all of this mean that Spicer is on his way out the door? Only time will tell. But when you're the subject of regular mockery on Saturday Night Live, it's a pretty good sign that you're becoming a distraction. And Trump may not be OK with that.