Yahoo News Who is Sean Spicer, Donald Trump's combative press secretary?
Sean Spicer had held the title of White House press secretary for just hours when he stormed into the briefing room to lambaste the press over coverage of Donald Trump's inauguration.
Many of the claims made by Mr Spicer, 45, were demonstrably false, including that a ground covering had been used for the first time which made the crowds look smaller than they were, and that the audience was the largest in history.
One of Mr Spicer's colleagues, senior Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway, later defended him, saying he was merely stating "alternative facts".
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 will be 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.
