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An Earnest, and sincere, praise

Press Secretary Josh Earnest, in his last press briefing under the Obama administration, received some kind words from the Commander-in- Chief during Tuesday's press briefing. The president praised Earnest for his "integrity", for being a "straight-shooter" and having an "All-American" look "going for him."

"That's helpful", said the president.


Earnest has been ridiculed for being "too vanilla" and had been ridiculed by incoming president Trump as being "foolish."

Said Trump during one of his campaign rallies, "This foolish guy, Josh Earnest, I don't know," Trump told the crowd. "You know, having the right press secretary is so important because he's so bad the way he delivers a message. He can deliver a positive message and it sounds bad. He could say ladies and gentlemen, today we have totally defeated ISIS, and it wouldn't sound good, OK?"

During today's presser Earnest said, "I have to admit that even that one made me laugh."



Earnest (more selective than previous Obama press secretaries about reporters he chooses to call on during press briefings) said his job hadn't been all fun and games and rattled off a laundry list of times he has 'tangled' with Senator Chuck Schumer over various pieces of legislation.

"There was a time where I tangled with Senator Schumber for funding for DHS in New York City, and the time I battled with Schumer over the Iran deal..."

Today's briefing marked Earnest's 354th briefing as press secretary. He is the third press secretary under the Obama administration, succeeding press secretaries Robert (Bob) Gibbs and Jay Carney.

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