CLAIMING HIS PRESS briefings were a “prime-time show” around the world, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer has said he is “one of the most popular guys in Ireland”.

Speaking to Axios, a US political news website, Spicer said that he had been mobbed on a recent trip to Europe and claimed huge levels of popularity for his press briefings.

“The US press briefing had become part of their nightly viewing,” he said.

It was a prime-time show from Europe to the Middle East … I’m one of the most popular guys in Ireland.

Politico reported yesterday that Spicer is to join the paid speaking circuit, but he told Axios that he is considering many possibilities, including paid appearances on TV shows in Ireland and the UK or even a book detailing the lessons he learnt in communications.

Spicer, who resigned in July after nearly six months in the job, became known for defending US President Donald Trump’s positions (and the wording of tweets) even when they were massively controversial.

Among the most notable was his claim that Trump’s inauguration crowd represented “the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration, period” – a statement that was widely ridiculed.

He also gained notoriety through comedian Melissa McCarthy’s impersonations of him on Saturday Night Live.

It was widely reported that Spicer resigned in protest after Anthony Scaramucci was hired as the White House communications director.

Spicer then told Associated Press that it would be “great” when Scaramucci took over, but said that there were “too many cooks in the kitchen”.

In a tweet, he said it was an “honor & a privilege” to serve Trump.

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