President Donald Trump has been holding informal, off-the-cuff news conferences with reporters, a stark contrast to his Democratic predecessor, Joe Biden, who frequently ducked questions and took scripted questions from reporters. On Tuesday, Trump took questions for half an hour from reporters gathered at the White House, following a half-trillion dollar investment by top tech companies to expand the nation’s artificial intelligence infrastructure.
This is the second straight day Trump has held an informal news conference with reporters. On Monday, he took questions for 45 minutes as he signed an avalanche of executive orders and actions in the Oval Office. The back and forth with reporters was carried live by Fox News and CNN.
Trump’s accessibility with reporters showcases his unscripted nature, and it stands in stark contrast with Biden’s limited and tightly stage-managed interactions with reporters. Trump’s deputy White House chief of staff for communications, Taylor Budowich, said the president is active in wanting to go out and communicate both his successes and challenges, and he is active in wanting to solve those.
Veteran White House reporter Julie Mason said it is refreshing to have a president who is accessible and available, and who will answer any question thrown at him. Mason noted that Biden was kept under wraps and reporters rarely got a chance to ask him anything, which was a huge frustration in the press corps.
Trump is known for his extended interactions with reporters, and his exchanges with the media are often free-flowing, without any aides selecting reporters to ask questions. Budowich said Trump’s accessibility and off-the-cuff style are contributing factors to his political success. Trump is also taking questions from Fox News’ Sean Hannity for his first Oval Office interview since returning to the White House.
