Author Topic: President Trump's New Record: The Longest Time Without a Formal Press Conference in Half a Century (Read 1537 times)

Suppressed · « **on:** February 16, 2018, 01:33:09 pm »

President Trump's New Record: The Longest Time Without a Formal Press Conference in Half a Century
SCOTT BIXBY
02.15.18 9:37 PM ET
https://www.thedailybeast.com/president-trumps-new-record-the-longest-time-without-a-formal-press-conference-in-half-a-century

A little more than three weeks after his inauguration, Donald Trump gave his first-ever press conference as president.

Over the course of 77 dizzying minutes, Trump told journalists hastily corralled into the East Room that Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election was â€œfake news,â€ asked an African-American reporter whether she was friends with the Congressional Black Congress, and declared that members of the media who printed leaks from within his own White House should be â€œashamed of themselves.â€

One year later, that circus-like exchange remains Trumpâ€™s first, last, and only formal press conferenceâ€”the longest period of time without a solo press conference held by an American president in at least half a century.

According to records stretching back to the Coolidge administration and compiled by the American Presidency Project, Trump has gone longer without conducting a formal solo press conference than any president since at least Lyndon Johnson. By the end of his first year in office, President Barack Obama had held 11 solo press conferences; President George W. Bush had held five.

[...]

Right_in_Virginia · « **Reply #1 on:** February 16, 2018, 01:39:32 pm »

What a stupid article. The President speaks with the press, taking their questions, regularly prior to before boarding Marine One.

I've posted the videos from these press availabilities often.

LauraTXNM · « **Reply #2 on:** February 16, 2018, 02:24:36 pm »

Quote from: Right_in_Virginia on February 16, 2018, 01:39:32 pm

What a stupid article. The President speaks with the press, taking their questions, regularly prior to before boarding Marine One.

I've posted the videos from these press availabilities often.

It isn't the same thing as a sustained exchange, though, is it ;( ?

driftdiver · « **Reply #3 on:** February 16, 2018, 02:28:31 pm »

Quote from: LauraTXNM on February 16, 2018, 02:24:36 pm

It isn't the same thing as a sustained exchange, though, is it ;( ?

With the way the press treats him I don't blame him. Especially knowing his speaking style and likelihood of going off topic. It'd be like throwing fresh meat to the tigers.

They talk to Sarah almost every day and she speaks for him. This is just another effort to paint him in a negative light.

jmyrlefuller · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2018, 02:31:27 pm »

What, does the media think they have a right to a public venue to berate the guy?

Right_in_Virginia · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2018, 02:39:15 pm »

Quote from: LauraTXNM on February 16, 2018, 02:24:36 pm

It isn't the same thing as a sustained exchange, though, is it ;( ?

I think 20 minutes of press availability on a regular basis is pretty damn good @LauraTXNM . But not everyone can be satisfied, can they?

Weird Tolkienish Figure · « **Reply #6 on:** February 16, 2018, 02:45:54 pm »

Let's be honest here, while the press is downright abusive towards the president, press conferences aren't exactly Trump's strong point. I remember the one this time last year was a disaster.

skeeter · « **Reply #7 on:** February 16, 2018, 02:50:17 pm »

Quote from: LauraTXNM on February 16, 2018, 02:24:36 pm

It isn't the same thing as a sustained exchange, though, is it ;( ?

Why should he subject himself to a 'sustained exchange' with the degenerate media, who are obviously consumed with the idea that we erred in not selecting their preferred candidate and care only about proving it?

&%$ them.

LauraTXNM · « **Reply #8 on:** February 16, 2018, 02:57:43 pm »

Quote from: skeeter on February 16, 2018, 02:50:17 pm

Why should he subject himself to a 'sustained exchange' with the degenerate media, who are obviously consumed with the idea that we erred in not selecting their preferred candidate and care only about proving it?

&%$ them.

It's as close as we have to a UK or Canadian "Question Time", and I think it's valuable. Sorry, but I think it makes him cowardly. YMMV.

skeeter · « **Reply #9 on:** February 16, 2018, 03:01:22 pm »

Quote from: LauraTXNM on February 16, 2018, 02:57:43 pm

It's as close as we have to a UK or Canadian "Question Time", and I think it's valuable. Sorry, but I think it makes him cowardly. YMMV.

Of course some would find gratification in an adversarial press shouting abuse at the president. But edifying would be the last thing it would be.

I think he's wise to avoid it.

edpc · « **Reply #10 on:** February 16, 2018, 03:04:04 pm »

Meh. I wouldnâ€™t talk to them either, unless it was absolutely necessary. They usually get a daily briefing, anyway. The events of Wednesday created an exception.

endicom · « **Reply #11 on:** February 16, 2018, 03:14:51 pm »

Another nothingbooger flicked in Trump's general direction.

What is the purpose of a press conference? Is that purpose served in but one way?

dfwgator · « **Reply #12 on:** February 16, 2018, 03:16:54 pm »

Why does he need the press when he can go directly to the people via Twitter?

ABX · « **Reply #13 on:** February 16, 2018, 03:17:33 pm »

It probably is best if he doesn't have press conferences. He does better when he keeps his yap shut.

edpc · « **Reply #14 on:** February 16, 2018, 03:26:35 pm »

The content of the press conference is a known quantity, anyway. Multiple events will be referred to as the biggest in history. Someone or something will be called beautiful. People will be described as amazing and wonderful. Members of the press will be called fake news.

corbe · « **Reply #15 on:** February 16, 2018, 07:00:19 pm »

I agree with most here, it'd be better NOW that he stay away from the predatory press for the foreseeable future, with all the extra-marital affairs coming to light, they would beat the $hit out of him. Another self-inflicted wound.

Wingnut · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2018, 07:16:57 pm »

Without Press Conference's we don't need to fumigate the Press Room for Cockaroaches and other vermin every month. Trump is saving American Tax Payers a lot of money by not holding PC's.

Smart. Very smart.

Applewood · « **Reply #17 on:** February 16, 2018, 08:08:46 pm »

I'd rather have fewer press conferences than those constant press slobberfests we all had to endure during 8 years of Obama. Usually, Jug Ears would come on around lunch time -- spoiled my appetite and he delayed the local news. And that hideous yellow curtain -- I hope Mrs. Trump got rid of that thing.

truth_seeker · « **Reply #18 on:** February 16, 2018, 08:10:55 pm »

Quote from: LauraTXNM on February 16, 2018, 02:57:43 pm

It's as close as we have to a UK or Canadian "Question Time", and I think it's valuable. Sorry, but I think it makes him cowardly. YMMV.

But we are NOT the UK or Canada. Remember, we saved the UK's chestnuts twice in the last century.

GrouchoTex · « **Reply #19 on:** February 16, 2018, 08:13:32 pm »

Truth be told, we all gave Obama a hard time for this same thing.
Yes, the media collectively are idiots, but how you handle them is also something that it fair to judge our Presidents by, all of them.

See Reagan/Sam Donaldson for examples.

Emjay · « **Reply #20 on:** February 16, 2018, 08:16:40 pm »

Quote from: Right_in_Virginia on February 16, 2018, 01:39:32 pm

What a stupid article. The President speaks with the press, taking their questions, regularly prior to before boarding Marine One.

I've posted the videos from these press availabilities often.

Yep, it's a stupid article. Given the nasty attitude of the press at Sarah Sanders pressers, I wouldn't bother with them either.

As for Obama's many press conferences, wasn't he always wired up or with a teleprompter?

Emjay · « **Reply #21 on:** February 16, 2018, 08:20:04 pm »

Quote from: LauraTXNM on February 16, 2018, 02:57:43 pm

It's as close as we have to a UK or Canadian "Question Time", and I think it's valuable. Sorry, but I think it makes him cowardly. YMMV.

It is smart, not cowardly. What could anybody possibly gain by this circus? He communicates daily in his own way and he appears on TV with various statements as in his short talk about the Florida shootings yesterday.

How smart is it to step into a minefield.??

Emjay · « **Reply #22 on:** February 16, 2018, 08:21:14 pm »

Quote from: Applewood on February 16, 2018, 08:08:46 pm

I'd rather have fewer press conferences than those constant press slobberfests we all had to endure during 8 years of Obama. Usually, Jug Ears would come on around lunch time -- spoiled my appetite and he delayed the local news. And that hideous yellow curtain -- I hope Mrs. Trump got rid of that thing.

Yep! That's why I don't have you on ignore. Sometimes you say something really smart and funny.

Suppressed · « **Reply #23 on:** February 16, 2018, 08:47:07 pm »

Quote from: LauraTXNM on February 16, 2018, 02:57:43 pm

It's as close as we have to a UK or Canadian "Question Time", and I think it's valuable. Sorry, but I think it makes him cowardly. YMMV.

@LauraTXNM
Just a couple of weeks ago, a Canadian friend asked me about the equivalent to "Question Time" and where she could watch it, when I told her that she might not be getting a totally fair view of President Trump. It left me a bit chagrined.

It's true, that's not the best forum for him. But I do wish there was access like in the UK and Canada...especially with all the harumphing!

Wingnut · « **Reply #24 on:** February 16, 2018, 09:05:47 pm »

Quote from: Suppressed on February 16, 2018, 08:47:07 pm

@LauraTXNM
Just a couple of weeks ago, a Canadian friend asked me about the equivalent to "Question Time" and where she could watch it, when I told her that she might not be getting a totally fair view of President Trump. It left me a bit chagrined.

It's true, that's not the best forum for him. But I do wish there was access like in the UK and Canada...especially with all the harumphing!

The last thing we want or need here is Canada's evil oozing over us like maple syrup.