Dana Perino Reveals Secret Tactic Used During White House Briefings

During her tenure as White House press secretary under President George W. Bush, Dana Perino developed a discreet method for dealing with combative reporters: she would secretly flip them off while maintaining a polite facade.

Perino shared this habit, which she described as a way to maintain her composure and a sense of defiance, during an interview on Sean Hannity's podcast. She explained that she would place a cup of water on the podium, using it to shield her hand as she made the gesture.

"I would just sit there with my hand over my cup and just flip him off the entire time he was talking," Perino told Hannity. "They'd be asking questions. I'd smile through it... [and] nod."

She recalled that this tactic provided her with a small sense of "defiance and confidence" during tense exchanges. The story, initially kept private, was later detailed in her 2015 memoir, "And the Good News Is..." It also reportedly earned praise from the late conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh, who called it "the best story ever."

Hannity, agreeing with Limbaugh, deemed it "the greatest story ever told" by a White House press secretary. He expressed admiration for Perino's unexpected display of defiance.

Perino, who served as press secretary from 2007 to 2009 and is now a co-anchor of "America's Newsroom," suggested that the pressure on reporters to create memorable moments, amplified by social media, contributes to challenging press briefings.

"It's worse now with social media," she told Hannity. She also reflected on conversations with former press secretary Mike McCurry about the impact of cameras in the White House briefing room.

Perino's full conversation with Hannity is available on various podcast platforms, including iHeartRadio, YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.