Trump: Spicer took ‘tremendous abuse’ from news media

President Trump lashed out against the news media Friday night, claiming his outgoing press secretary Sean Spicer suffered “tremendous abuse.”

Trump praised Spicer in a tweet, saying the outgoing White House spokesman’s future in the private sector would be “bright.”

“Sean Spicer is a wonderful person who took tremendous abuse from the Fake News Media,” Trump tweeted, “but his future is bright!”

Sean Spicer is a wonderful person who took tremendous abuse from the Fake News Media – but his future is bright!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 22, 2017

{mosads}

Spicer also went after news media during an appearance Friday night on Fox News, accusing reporters of having a “clickbait mentality.”

“I was increasingly disappointed in how so many … members here in the media do their job, or rather, don’t do their job,” he told Fox News’s Sean Hannity.

“I think that there’s become a very clickbait mentality among a lot of reporters where they’re more interested in their clip or their click than they are about the truth and the facts.”

Spicer had an often combative relationship with the press, starting from his first appearance at the White House press podium where he falsely claimed that Trump saw the largest inaugural crowds in history at his inauguration the previous day.

Spicer announced Friday he would step down as press secretary after Trump named Anthony Scaramucci as his new White House communications director.

Spicer confirmed in multiple interviews that Trump asked him to stay on as press secretary, but said he declined.

“It’s been an honor & a privilege to serve @POTUS @realDonaldTrump & this amazing country. I will continue my service through August,” he tweeted earlier in the day.

Scaramucci will formally take the reins of White House communications office Aug. 15. Spicer has served as interim communications director since Mike Dubke resigned in May. Spicer’s deputy, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, will replace him as press secretary.

“I could not have asked for a better deputy than @SHSanders45 – she will be a fantastic @PressSec and serve @POTUS & @WhiteHouse very well,” Spicer wrote on Twitter Friday night.

Updated: 10:47 p.m.