On Jan. 21, just one day after President Donald Trump was sworn into office, White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer gave perhaps the most outrageous first press briefing in our nation’s history. Spicer spewed statistic after statistic, all supporting the fact that Trump had the largest inauguration audience  ever, and then refused to take questions from the press. Several of Spicer’s statements, as pointed out afterwards, were completely erroneous.

A day later, Counselor to the President Kellyanne Conway, in an interview with Meet the Press’ Chuck Todd, defended Spicer with what has been the most memorable quote of Trump’s presidency thus far: “Don’t be so overly dramatic about it, Chuck. You’re saying it’s a falsehood, and … our press secretary, Sean Spicer, gave alternative facts to that.”

Most, including Todd, were baffled. What were “alternative facts?” Conway didn’t attempt to further explain her newly coined phrase.

While the Trump administration have deflected criticism endlessly in an attempt to defend themselves, I’m going to get straight to the point: alternative facts are nothing more than lies.

While Spicer and the rest of the Trump administration may stand by what was said, attributing the false figures to statistics he was given at the time, it’s impossible to logically defend him and his claims, which were easily proven false by simply looking at D.C. transit numbers and pictures from the inauguration.

Trump ran his presidential campaign on his ability to provide statements and moments that the media had to cover, and his administration seems to be taking on the same strategy. Trump cannot lose; he must be number one in everything, even if it means telling lies to get to the top.

Luckily, most of the public, if they hadn’t already, has now realized the amount of falsehoods the Trump administration and Trump himself have provided as truth. In just eight days, Trump’s disapproval rating had reached majority, an unprecedented feat (for reference, it took Barack Obama, “the worst president in history,” 936 days in office before reaching majority disapproval.)

Still, for the approximately 40% of Americans that somehow approve of Trump, this sets a dangerous precedent and perhaps gives the rest of us a glimpse into the future. Even though just 4% of Trump’s statements have been completely true, and he was awarded the 2015 Lie of the Year by fact-checking website PolitiFact, these Americans remain loyal and true to the President. This begs the question: where is the line drawn? At what point are the lies deemed too overwhelming to support Trump any longer? It’s as if the American populace is on a Trump-produced reality TV show to see how far the limits of truth can be pushed.

While I want nothing more than for Trump to succeed at this endeavor for the good of America as a whole, the first two weeks have not given me much confidence. It is absolutely unacceptable for the Trump administration to keep operating in this manner. The American public deserves the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. If Trump can’t provide that, it is up to you to stay informed.