Sean Spicer 4-25 WH Briefing

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Spicer has to fulfill his Navy reservist duty at the Pentagon

Friday will be the first time a press aide other than Spicer briefs reporters on camera

Washington CNN  — 

White House press secretary Sean Spicer won’t be at the podium Friday, but he doesn’t have the day off.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Donald Trump’s deputy White House press secretary, will do her first on-camera briefing with the White House press corps Friday while Spicer fulfills his Navy reservist duty at the Pentagon.

Sanders has briefed reporters off-camera, but Friday will be the first time a press aide other than Spicer steps behind the White House briefing room podium while cameras roll.

Trump is not in Washington on Friday, making a full-fledged White House briefing unorthodox. The President, after headlining an event with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull in New York, will spend the weekend at his home at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

Spicer, who holds the rank of commander, joined the Navy Reserve in 1999 as a public affairs officer. He received a master’s degree in 2012 from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, his home state.

Sanders also briefed reporters off-camera Thursday.

“Sean is actually on Navy Reserve duty, so you guys are stuck with me – today and tomorrow,” she said. “So brace yourselves for a fun 24 hours.”

Sanders’ father, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, offered congratulations to her on Twitter.

“Proud of daughter Sarah subbing at WH press briefing today. Her Dad thinks she crushed it! Hey I’m as unbiased as the media!” he said.