Who is Sean Spicer, Donald Trump's combative press secretary?

Sean Spicer, the White House press secretary, has already had a series of combative encounters with journalists.

He had held the title for just hours when he stormed into the briefing room to lambast the press over coverage of President Donald Trump's inauguration.

Some of the claims made by Mr Spicer, including that a ground covering had been used for the first time which made the crowds look smaller, were later shown to be inaccurate.

One of his colleagues, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, defended him, saying he was merely stating "alternative facts".

Mr Spicer later reached a whole new level of fame when he was lampooned by the comedian Melissa McCarthy as a "gum chewing, name-taking" character on Saturday Night Live.

Responding to the skit the press secretary said the programme "used to be funny" but had "crossed over into mean".

He added: "I think Melissa McCarthy needs to slow down on the gum chewing. Way too many pieces in there."

Mr Spicer joined Mr Trump's inner circle from the Republican National Committee, where he served as communications director and was a close ally of Reince Priebus, the former chairman of the RNC who is now White House chief of staff.

Mr Spicer also holds the title of White House communications director, meaning he is responsible for both creating communications policy and executing it as the administration's public face.

During previous administrations those jobs were separate, and the merger indicates the high regard Mr Trump and Mr Preibus have for him.

Mr Spicer is a US Navy reservist with the rank of commander, and has been a long-time communications hand in Republican politics.

During the primary election campaign he acted as liaison between the party and the presidential candidates.

He previously served George W Bush as a trade representative, logging over 440,000 miles of international travel.

During his time in the Bush White House he also played the Easter Bunny for the White House Easter Egg Roll.

Despite many years spent as a spokesman, Mr Spicer has had an at times combative relationship with the press.

According to the New York Times, he was furious in 1993 when the student newspaper at Connecticut College, where he was a member of student government, identified him as "Sean Sphincter".

“While those involved claimed that this was a copy joke that went unnoticed, I believe that it was a malicious and intentional attack. For a paper which claims to be run by ‘professional’ standards, I find it a bit sad that this type of reporting is explained as a simple part of production," he wrote in a letter to the editor.

Since then he has repeatedly criticised outlets ranging from Politico to CNN for what he claimed was inaccurate or biased reporting.

The Washington press corps is now firing back after his less-than-truthful first day on the job, and an antagonistic relationship appears to be building which will likely be on display during the daily press briefings, should he continue to provide them.