President Trump has a long and complicated history with the press. From calling mainstream media outlets "fake news" to encouraging attacks on journalists, it is no surprise the White House press briefings have gotten so messy. Critics argue the briefings, now led by Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, are nothing more than propaganda and have become completely pointless. But others believe press briefings are crucial to holding public officials accountable. What do you think?

PERSPECTIVES

The very first White House press briefing with Sean Spicer began with a lie: "This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period." And it would set the tone for what would develop into an increasingly turbulent relationship between the Trump administration and the press, riddled with half-truths and outright falsehoods.

When it was first announced that Sarah Huckabee Sanders would be taking over for the often-ruffled Spicer, many in the press welcomed Sanders as a refreshing and articulate alternative. But like Spicer, Sanders lies with impunity--she's just proven to be better at hiding it.

David Horsey argues in The Los Angeles Times that Sanders is perfectly suited for the role, a dishonest press secretary to a dishonest president.

While it is the job of White House press secretaries to represent the interests of the administration they serve, Horsey claims Sanders has taken "spin" to another level.

Earlier this year, many called on the press to boycott the briefing altogether when then-press secretary Spicer refused to hold on-camera briefings, even hiding from reporters in the bushes at one point. Journalists demanded briefings to be held on camera for the sake of "transparency" and "commitment to democratic ideals."

Despite the outrage, there never was a formal boycott of the press briefing. Many felt it was more important to get questions answered on the record, even if they had to be asked off-camera.

In an official statement, president of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) Jeff Mason reiterated the importance of the press briefings:

But it isn't just Trump's defenders who find the daily press briefings pointless. In the New Republic, former Obama aide Reid Cherlin argues what was once an informal conversation between White House officials and members of the press, has now devolved into a shouting match between a gaggle of reporters and some poor spokesperson.

While Trump's attacks on the press possess a particularly authoritarian flare, many still believe the political theatre of press briefings remain the same.

Many still feel the White House press briefings are a cornerstone of our democracy, and despite their sometimes combative nature, any erosion of the daily briefing is a mistake.

Sarah Posner argues in The Washington Post that to eliminate the White House press briefing would be to give the Trump administration exactly what they want: "neutralize the news media" or as Steve Bannon has said "the opposition party," and further characterize the mainstream media as "fake news."

But as people tune in every day to be met with lie upon lie from Sanders, it becomes increasingly difficult to see their value

Why do you continue to show up at the sham press briefing? All your colleagues should boycott and not give a voice to their propaganda https://t.co/wfyG3qkCS3 — Richard (@Astrosfollower) November 1, 2017

**Sarah Sanders Propaganda Briefing** needs to be renamed **Liar, Liar Pants on Fire Briefing** 😠😠 #PressBriefing — DesertGal (@DesertGalNM) November 1, 2017

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