It is not easy being Press Secretary to an unpredictable president with a fondness for posting early-morning Tweets.

At times Sean Spicer has found himself agonising over the addition or absence of the word “is” in a sentence as he tries to keep the White House message together amid flip-flopping policy and gaffes.

And his combative style has earned him the status of late-night comedy punchline, lampooned by the comedian Melissa McCarthy as a gum chewing, name-taking, patronising caricature on Saturday Night Live.

Yet his press briefings have become unmissable political theatre during Mr Trump’s first 100 days as president as he responds to the day’s latest crisis, tries to explain away Tweets or kick awkward problems into the long grass with a unique blend of confrontation and self-deprecation.