Aides to President-elect Donald Trump and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio lashed out at each other on social media Tuesday night in a dispute over who ought to pay for the emergency responders who were dispatched to Trump Tower earlier in the day.
Incoming White House press secretary Sean Spicer tweeted Tuesday afternoon following an evacuation at the Manhattan skyscraper to say the incident was a “false alarm” and the transition team was going “back to work.” The tweet caught the attention of de Blasio’s press secretary Eric Phillips, who responded as if on behalf of the New York Police Department.
Back to work here at Trump Tower after a false alarm. Thanks NYPD
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) December 27, 2016
“No problem. We’ll send you the bill,” Phillips wrote.
No problem. We’ll send you the bill. https://t.co/mxbUqzgHds
— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) December 27, 2016
Dan Scavino Jr., Trump’s incoming social media director, then denounced Phillips.
“Eric Phillips- Spokesperson for @NYCmayor @BilldeBlasio- you are an embarrassment to the @NYCMayorsOffice & the amazing #NYPD,” Scavino wrote, prompting a rebuttal from the Democratic mayor’s spokesman.
Eric Phillips- Spokesperson for @NYCMayor @BilldeBlasio– you are an embarrassment to the @NYCMayorsOffice & the amazing #NYPD. https://t.co/kPX9go1gl4
— Dan Scavino Jr. (@DanScavino) December 28, 2016
“That’s not very nice, Dan. But about that bill…work on it with us?” Phillips replied, attaching an article about the $7 million that House Republicans made available for security at Trump Tower, where the president-elect and his family currently reside.
That’s not very nice, Dan. But about that bill…work on it with us? https://t.co/mrN6vio9tp https://t.co/42znPvj7m2
— Eric Phillips (@EricFPhillips) December 28, 2016
