White House press secretary calls for ESPN to fire Trump critic Jemele Hill

Hill had noted Trump's racism on Twitter

From the September 13 White House press briefing:

Video file

DAVID NAKAMURA: Yes. You mentioned a couple times today -- sort of emphasized -- diversity in the West Wing, and you talked about the president being very clear after Charlottesville in denouncing all hate. I just want to read a comment from an influential African American sportscaster from ESPN yesterday who said, “Donald Trump is a white supremacist who has largely surrounded himself with other white supremacists. His rise is a direct result of white supremacy. Period. He's unqualified and unfit to be president.” Why do you think -- do you have a reaction to that, and is the president aware of that comment and --

SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS: I'm not sure if he's aware, but I think that's one of the more outrageous comments that anyone could make and certainly something that I think is a fireable offense by ESPN. 

NAKAMURA: If the president was so clear, as you said, why do you think influential African-American figures are saying things like this?

HUCKABEE SANDERS: I'm not going to speak for that individual, but I know that the president has met, again, with people like Sen. Scott [(R-SC)] who are highly-respected leaders in the African American community. He's committed to working with them to bring the country together. I think that's where we need to be focused, not on outrageous statements like that one. 

Previously:

How Donald Trump emboldened Charlottesville white supremacists

White nationalists cheer Trump for assigning blame to “both sides” for Charlottesville violence

After praising Trump's statement on Charlottesville, a neo-Nazi website celebrates murder of counterprotester Heather Heyer