Washington, DC - 19 January 2017

1. Sean Spicer walking into news conference

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2. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"I think when you look at the totality of his administration, the people that he's talked to, the people that he's met with, the people that he's appointing, you see a president who is committed to uniting this country, who is bringing the best and the brightest together. But look at the Cabinet: Elaine Chao, Dr. Ben Carson, Gov. Nikki Haley, the first Indian-American. The number one thing that I think Americans should focus on is he hiring the best and the brightest? Is he hiring people who are committed to enacting real change, respecting taxpayers, bringing about an agenda that will create jobs, lift up wages. And I think that what you're seeing and what you are going to continue to see, not just in the Cabinet but through the entire thing is a diversity in gender and a diversity in thinking and a diversity of ideology. So it's not just about you know, skin color or ethnic heritage, but you look at the totality of this Cabinet, an Indian American, African American, you know, Asian American, it's about a lot of things. And I think you can pick out one group and say where is the percentage of that. But if you look at the totality of the people he's meeting with, the people he's bringing in for senior staff positions, Cabinet, sub Cabinet, deputies

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3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"He continues to put together an amazingly diverse cabinet. So, if you're looking specifically for Hispanics, I think as we move forward, we've got five thousand jobs to fill. There is going to be a tremendous number of Hispanic Americans to fill those posts and I just caution people to stay tuned. lots of great things are coming."

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4. SOUNDBITE (English) Sean Spicer, Incoming White House Press Secretary:

"That he's going to his own hotel? I mean, I think that's pretty smart. Again, I think the idea that he's going to his own hotel shouldn't be a shocker. It's a beautiful place, it's somewhere that he's very proud of and I think it's symbolic of the kind of government that he's going to run: on time, under budget, excuse me, ahead of time, under budget. Same kind of theme that the vice president-elect expressed earlier about this transition: 20 percent under budget, 1.2 million dollars returned to the Treasury. He's very proud. It's an absolutely stunning hotel. I encourage you to go there if you haven't been by. But I don't think the idea that President-elect Trump is having a reception at the Trump hotel should be a shocker to anybody."

Incoming White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer defended the fact that Donald Trump did not appoint any Hispanics to his Cabinet, the first time that has happened in 30 years.

At a news conference Thursday, Spicer said President-elect Trump is bringing "the best and the brightest together," and listed the other minority members of his cabinet, including Housing and Urban Development pick, Dr. Ben Carson, who is African American and his choice for Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, who is Asian American.

He also urged people to "stay tuned," saying there are five thousand jobs still to be filled.

Spicer also defended Trump's repeated visits this week to his luxury Washington, DC hotel, saying it 's not "a shocker" that Trump wants to spend time there.