Sean Spicer on Paul Manafort

Quotes by Sean Spicer on Paul Manafort’s Role in the 2016 Trump Campaign

THEN
NOW


March 2017
July 2018

Sean Spicer Corey Lewandowski Paul Manafort Role Trump Campaign Then
Sean Spicer Corey Lewandowski Paul Manafort Role Trump Campaign Now


#SeanSpicer 3/17: "Manafort played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time." » #Spicer 7/18: "Paul brought a much-needed maturity to the Trump campaign when it needed an experienced political…operative." Click To Tweet

Quotes by Sean Spicer on Paul Manafort’s Role in the 2016 Trump Campaign

THEN

March 2017

Sean Spicer - Paul Manafort Role Trump Campaign Then
“Paul Manafort… played a very limited role for a very limited amount of time.”
- March 20, 2017

The White House, March 20, 2017
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer

(retrieved 7/13/18)
starts at 11:29

“He was hired to count delegates.”
- March 22, 2017

The White House, March 22, 2017
Press Briefing by Press Secretary Sean Spicer

(retrieved 7/13/18)
starts at 33:46

“[Paul Manafort is] a gentleman who was employed by someone for five months.”
- March 23, 2017

The White House, March 23, 2017
Daily Press Briefing by the Press Secretary

(retrieved 7/13/18)
starts at 40:32

NOW

July 24, 2018

Sean Spicer - Paul Manafort Role Trump Campaign Now
“Paul brought a much-needed maturity to the Trump campaign when it needed an experienced political professional operative more than anything else. There was no semblance of a campaign structure, just a few, distraught, overworked people constantly barking into their phones. Paul immediately set up and staffed the political and communications operations necessary to take on the Clinton machine.”
July 24, 2018 -

'The Briefing: Politics, The Press, and The President'

Sean Spicer (via The Guardian), July 13, 2018
Sean Spicer contradicts Trump's Manafort claims in new book

(retrieved 7/13/18)


#SeanSpicer 3/22/17: "❲Paul Manafort❳ was hired to count delegates." » #Spicer 7/18: "❲Before Manafort❳ there was no semblance of a campaign structure, just a few…people constantly barking into their phones." Click To Tweet


Context

Paul Manafort joined the Trump campaign on March 28, 2016, initially leading its delegate collection efforts.1New York Times, March 28, 2016
Donald Trump Hires Paul Manafort to Lead Delegate Effort
retrieved 6/15/18
He became the official Campaign Manager on June 20, 2016, replacing Corey Lewandowski who said, “Paul Manafort has been in operational control of the campaign since April 7. That’s a fact.”2Associated Press, June 20, 2016
Trump fires his campaign manager in dramatic shake-up
retrieved 6/15/18

Manafort worked for the Trump campaign for almost 5 months (144 days), including for more than 4 months as the operational leader of the campaign, during which time Trump secured and accepted the Republican Party’s presidential nomination. Manafort resigned under pressure from the Trump campaign on August 19, 2016, following a report from the New York Times that from 2007 to 2012 he was secretly paid $12.7 million by former Ukraine President Viktor F. Yanukovych’s pro-Russian political party.3New York Times, Aug. 14, 2016
Secret Ledger in Ukraine Lists Cash for Donald Trump’s Campaign Chief
retrieved 6/15/18
4New York Times, DATE
Paul Manafort Quits Donald Trump’s Campaign After a Tumultuous Run
retrieved 6/15/18



“Paul Manafort has been in operational control of the campaign since April 7. That’s a fact.”

Corey Lewandowski, July 20, 20165Associated Press, June 20, 2016
Trump fires his campaign manager in dramatic shake-up
(retrieved 7/13/18)



#SeanSpicer 3/23/17: "❲Paul Manafort is❳ a gentleman who was employed by someone for five months." » #Spicer 7/18: "Paul immediately set up and staffed the…operations necessary to take on the Clinton machine." Click To Tweet