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“There very few perks, there are very long days,” he said of Spicer’s job. “For something like this to happen to Sean Spicer I think really is an indictment against Donald Trump and again in his lack of loyalty

Burnett wrapped up the segment by saying, “If Donald Trump indeed plans to remove him, go ahead and get rid of him. But he’s done a lot for you, this deeply mattered to him. I just think on a human level it was clear what the right thing to do was.”

Some outside of the media industry were equally vocal.

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“I’m no Spicer fan, but Trump’s petty refusal to include him, a devout Catholic . . . was cruel and disgusting,” Harvard Law School’s Laurence Tribe tweeted.

“There are few things I despise more than people who use their power to step on the dreams of others,” another tweet said.

Spicer is a regular at Sunday mass, and told reporters earlier this year that he gave up alcohol for Lent. He was mocked last year for appearing on CNN with ashes on his forehead in honour of Ash Wednesday.

He did not respond to media requests for comment Wednesday evening, but has previously spoken of his faith publicly.

In a television interview during the transition, Spicer said, “I’m going to look to God every day to give me the strength to do what’s right,” he said.

“That’s all you can ask for is to get up and say, ‘Can I do this thing?'” Spicer said. “Help guide me and ask Him for strength.”

Some on social media expressed less sympathy toward the press secretary, with at least one Twitter user surmising, “maybe he didn’t want to go!”

Comedian Samantha Bee tweeted: “sorry about the pope. Remember, you don’t HAVE to put up with this . . .”