White House to brief media amid ’alternative facts’ row

White House press secretary Sean Spicer, who is at the centre of the controversy, tweeted: "The first official Trump Administration press briefing will be tomorrow at 1:30pm."

At the event, 6.30pm GMT, Mr Spicer is likely to face questions about his press briefing on Saturday when he made two unprovable statements.

FULL: @seanspicer: "We're going to hold the press accountable." pic.twitter.com/nK51t16Kpf

— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 21, 2017

They were that photographs of the audience at Mr Trump’s inaugural were intentionally framed to minimise the appearance of support, and that the tycoon drew the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration.

Mr Spicer also made statements which were quickly disproven, including that the Washington Metro system recorded more riders on the day of Mr Trump’s inaugural than when Mr Obama was sworn in for his second term.

He had also claimed Friday marked the first time that white floor covering was used on the Washington Mall that amplified empty spaces, and that it was the first time spectators were required to pass through magnetometers to enter the Mall.

His senior adviser Kellyanne Conway told NBC’s Meet The Press that the Trump administration was supplying "alternative facts".

She said: "There’s no way to really quantify crowds. We all know that. You can laugh at me all you want."

She added: "I think it’s actually symbolic of the way we’re treated by the press."

Mr Trump on Saturday declared he believed "it looked like a million and a half people".

But the number of rides on the Metro system did not match those of recent inaugurations.

As of 11am on Friday, there were 193,000 trips taken, according to the transport service’s Twitter account.

At the same hour eight years ago, there had been 513,000 trips. Four years later, there were 317,000 for Mr Obama’s second inauguration.

Ms Conway also declared Mr Trump will not release his tax returns now that he has taken office, breaking a promise he made during the campaign.

As a candidate, he said he would release his returns after an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit was completed.

Every president since 1976 has released the information, but Ms Conway said she does not believe Americans care whether Mr Trump follows suit.

"He’s not going to release his tax returns. We litigated this all through the election. People didn’t care," she said on ABC’s This Week.

Mr Trump responded to Saturday’s huge protests against him in Washington, as well as in other cities in the US and around the world, which in total attracted more than one million people.

The Washington rally appeared to attract more people than attended his inauguration on Friday, but there were no completely comparable numbers.

Regional transportation officials tweeted on Sunday that 1,001,616 trips were taken on the rail system on Saturday.

Metro spokesman Dan Stessel had said that on Friday, just over 570,000 trips were taken on the rail system.

Mr Trump tweeted early on Sunday morning: "Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn’t these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly."

Watched protests yesterday but was under the impression that we just had an election! Why didn't these people vote? Celebs hurt cause badly.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

Some 95 minutes later, he tweeted, still using his personal account: "Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don’t always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views."

Peaceful protests are a hallmark of our democracy. Even if I don't always agree, I recognize the rights of people to express their views.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2017

Mr Trump, whose celebrated his 12th wedding anniversary on Sunday, spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and announced plans for an early meeting with him.

He thanked senior law enforcement officers for their help with his inauguration, and singled out the work of FBI director James Comey, whom he offered a handshake and hug.

The president also swore-in a group of aides, telling them he believed they were ready to rise to a daunting task.

Mr Trump said at the White House East Room ceremony: "We will prove worthy of this moment in history. And I think it may very well be a great moment in history."

Mr Trump’s advisers have set Monday up as the president’s first major day of action on his sweeping campaign promises.

From his official presidential account he tweeted, with a large picture of himself: "NO DREAM is too big, NO CHALLENGE is too great. Nothing we want for our future is BEYOND OUR REACH. #AmericaFirst."

NO DREAM is too big, NO CHALLENGE is too great. Nothing we want for our future is BEYOND OUR REACH. #AmericaFirst🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/BGuVX4C1LH

— President Trump 45 Archived (@POTUS45) January 23, 2017

Meanwhile the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said it will file a lawsuit alleging the president is violating the Constitution by allowing his businesses to accept payments from foreign governments.

AP