TLDR:
- President Trump has made major policy decisions within hours or days of reporters asking questions — faster than any modern president
- He’s ordered actions on issues he admits learning about for the first time from journalists, including revoking Hunter Biden’s Secret Service detail
- The approach creates a stark contradiction: Mr. Trump fiercely attacks media as “fake news” while simultaneously acting on their prompts more than predecessors
- Experts say he seizes reporter questions to reward allies and punish opponents, turning press interactions into political opportunities
President Trump’s hostile relationship with the news media hasn’t stopped him from taking their cues — and acting on them with remarkable speed.
Since taking office, Mr. Trump has ordered major actions based solely on reporters’ questions, often admitting he learned about issues for the first time from journalists. He’s revoked Hunter Biden’s Secret Service protection, removed a 41-year-old peace vigil and designated Tesla dealership protesters as domestic terrorists — all prompted by media inquiries.
The approach creates an unusual paradox. Mr. Trump regularly attacks outlets as “fake news” and has banned The Associated Press from the Oval Office, yet he follows press prompts more than any modern predecessor.
“It’s an example of how different Trump is,” said Richard Bernadito, a former White House reporter now at American University. “He really listens to what the press is saying.”
The speed is striking. When asked about Hunter Biden’s 18-agent detail, Mr. Trump revoked the protection within hours. A peace vigil tent was dismantled overnight after a reporter’s question.
“When Trump hears something where he thinks he can help somebody on his side or punish someone on the other side, he acts,” said Robert Rowland, who teaches presidential rhetoric at the University of Kansas.
Read more:
• How questions from the Washington press corps often spur Trump to take unexpected action
This article is written with the assistance of generative artificial intelligence based solely on Washington Times original reporting and wire services. For more information, please read our AI policy or contact Ann Wog, Managing Editor for Digital, at awog@washingtontimes.com
The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
