The Atlantic

Sean Spicer Throws In the Towel

Asked to defend President Trump’s policy shifts on economic issues, the White House press secretary opts out.
Source: Carolyn Kaster / AP

When the president of the United States makes several major shifts on policy in the course of the week, it’s bound to raise a series of questions. Luckily, there’s someone whose job is to answer those questions, giving the press information about the president’s thinking and direction: the White House press secretary.

At least in theory. from the Export-Import Bank to interest rates to Chinese currency manipulation in an interview with . Trump also announced that NATO, which he had said was obsolete, is no longer obsolete. During Thursday’s White House briefing, reporters wanted to know what had happened, and what this meant for other Trump positions—were they equally malleable?

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