Sarah Sanders falsely claims Trump saw devastation 'firsthand' because he talked to people who really saw it

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders this week defended President Donald Trump's false claim that he had visited Hurricane Harvey disaster areas and had seen the devastation "firsthand."

The Washington Postpointed out on Thursday that Trump had been criticized for asserting that he had personally witnessed disaster areas.

But some reporters called out Trump, noting that he had not witnessed any "horror or devastation first hand."

Sanders responded to the controversy with her own definition of "firsthand."

"He met with a number of state and local officials who are eating, sleeping, breathing the Harvey disaster," she said in defense of the president. "He talked extensively with the governor, who certainly is right in the midst of every bit of this, as well as the mayors from several of the local towns that were hit hardest. And detailed briefing information throughout the day yesterday talking to a lot of the people on the ground."

"That certainly is a firsthand account," she added.