“Top Government Official Makes Regular Oval Office Appearances”
By Steve HollandWASHINGTON (Reuters) – The days of packed arenas, energetic playlists, and lengthy campaign speeches seem to be over. Since Donald Trump’s return to the White House, he has adopted a new approach to communicating with the American public – appearing almost daily from the Oval Office.In the past month, Trump has utilized the prestige of the historic West Wing office by hosting media events that are broadcast on news channels.”He’s using this platform to emphasize his authority as president,” said presidential historian Thomas Alan Schwartz of Vanderbilt University. “There’s a certain gravitas to the president speaking from the Oval Office.”The administration’s communication strategy has explicitly relied on Trump being his own spokesperson. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “The president is the most effective advocate for this administration, and you can expect to hear from both him and myself regularly,” during her first press briefing on January 28.Surrounded by portraits of past presidents like Ronald Reagan, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, with advisers including deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller close by, Trump has engaged with the press on a range of topics from international affairs to personal preferences, like his disdain for paper straws.During these informal interactions, Trump typically sits behind the Resolute Desk, a historic piece made from timbers of a British ship gifted by Queen Victoria and used by multiple presidents. Additionally, Trump has reinstated the iconic red button that summons a valet to bring him Diet Cokes, a feature from his first term.The frequency of these Oval Office sessions marks a departure from his predecessor, Joe Biden, who received criticism for limited engagement with reporters and relied heavily on scripted speeches in public areas like the Roosevelt Room and East Room. According to presidential scholar Martha Joynt Kumar, of Trump’s 34 engagements with reporters since taking office, 16 have taken place in the Oval Office. In contrast, Biden had held 22 brief question-and-answer sessions with reporters by the same point in his presidency, including nine from the Oval Office.While questioned about the frequent Oval Office appearances, Leavitt responded, “President Trump is willing to welcome journalists into the Oval Office nearly every day to pose questions for the world to witness.” However, she has notably reduced the number of formal briefings held for reporters.Trump’s utilization of the Oval Office during his second term is unprecedented, noted presidential historian Douglas Brinkley. “This is the ultimate live podcast: Oval Office live.”Despite the access granted, it is done on Trump’s terms. In a recent move, he barred Associated Press reporters from the Oval Office after the news agency persisted in referring to the Gulf of Mexico by its original name despite Trump’s executive order renaming it to Gulf of America. Various organizations, including the White House Correspondents’ Association and Reuters, have raised concerns over access restrictions based on editorial decisions.
Known for his flair for dramatics on reality television, Donald Trump views his time in the Oval Office as a platform for free media exposure, according to a source familiar with his perspective. His speaking style is often characterized by jumping from one topic to another and making spontaneous remarks. Last Thursday, Trump made a surprise announcement from his desk, revealing that he had conversed with Russian President Vladimir Putin and that they were contemplating a summit to address the conflict in Ukraine, potentially in Saudi Arabia, a move that raised concerns among European leaders. A week earlier, he controversially suggested the permanent relocation of 1.7 million Palestinians from Gaza, justifying his stance by claiming that the people there had no choice but to leave due to the destruction caused by Israel’s military actions.
Many of Trump’s engagements in the Oval Office are initially designated as “closed press” on the daily agenda, indicating that journalists are not supposed to be present. However, moments before each event, his aides will inquire whether he wishes to invite reporters. Trump often decides to open the event to the press, leading to a sudden rush by journalists to attend. For instance, on a recent Tuesday, Trump unexpectedly allowed the press pool into the Oval Office to witness his conversation with Jordan’s King Abdullah, where he urged the leader to reconsider his opposition to accepting Palestinian refugees from Gaza. Despite Trump’s persuasive efforts, the king reiterated his country’s firm stance against the proposed plan.
Taking cues from his background in entertainment, Trump likes to keep his audience on edge by hinting at future developments. For instance, he tantalizingly teased a forthcoming announcement on tariffs, questioning whether he would make the revelation that day, adding a sense of intrigue to maintain interest. In his own words, “I may do it today, and if I do it today, I could almost do it right now. Would you like to be shocked?”
(Reporting By Steve Holland; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Suzanne Goldenberg)
