Trump's off-the-record cocktail party with reporters draws criticism
An off-the-record gathering between President-elect Donald Trump and members of the media earned criticism and sparked debate over whether journalists were pushing Trump enough to make himself available on-the-record.
On Sunday, some high-profile reporters and 2016 presidential campaign embeds schmoozed with Trump and members of his transition team at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, drinking and posing for individual and group pictures with the president-elect, who attended for a half-an-hour.
The online backlash to the meeting was swift after Mike Allen, former Politico reporter and founder of Axios, posted a photo from the party:
Christmas @ Mar-a-Lago: @realDonaldTrump, relaxed and chatty, hosts press for drinks -- off-record but pics OK @axios pic.twitter.com/lysW7FHzIl
- Mike Allen (@mikeallen) December 19, 2016@xeni @tdopp @MichaelLinhorst @mikeallen when journalists kowtow the most powerful it shows how little they care to hear from powerless
- Will Dizard (@willdizard) December 19, 2016@mikeallen lol in all seriousness though this is terribly embarrassing for you & everyone in this photo should be ashamed. happy holidays!
- Silpa Kovvali (@SilpaKov) December 19, 2016The 2017 cast of The Authoritarian Apprentice https://t.co/asA7AgiTB5
- Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) December 19, 2016Reminder that some people are journalists because they worship power in any form and need to be adjacent to it https://t.co/NhF1l5R4EQ
- Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff) December 19, 2016Though it is hardly uncommon for the president or their staff to meet with reporters off-the-record, many observers took issue with journalists attending the meeting despite Trump's refusal to hold a traditional press conference.
Despite criticizing Hillary Clinton the campaign trail for refusing to speak to reporters, Trump himself has not held a press conference in 144 days, breaking the custom for presidents-elect to hold press conferences several days after the election.
Reporters shouldn't pal around off-the-record with Trump until he agrees to have a public, on-the-record news conference. Grow a backbone https://t.co/3Tb59y7g4M
- Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) December 19, 2016Trump hasn't had a press conference in 143 days.
But he's now had a private press confab. https://t.co/ju05fC3dkw
- Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) December 19, 2016for those keeping score at home: it's been 143 days since trump's last press conference. https://t.co/NvkggjjnSa
- Maya Kosoff (@mekosoff) December 19, 2016And who don't answer questions on the record. https://t.co/6GQrTUutMx
- Kai Ryssdal (@kairyssdal) December 19, 2016Obama did OTRs, too. Problem is if Trump isn't also answering questions on the record. And he hasn't held a press conference since July. https://t.co/JTqdJz1fpX
- Michael Calderone (@mlcalderone) December 19, 2016The New York Times' Maggie Haberman did not criticize the meeting, but pointed out that a similar off-the-record dinner in 2015 hosted by Hillary Clinton's campaign chair John Podesta drew the ire of a number of Trump supporters and Trump-friendly media outlets.
Will the same people who treated the Podesta dinner like some kind of conspiracy react same to Trump/reporters evening?
- Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 19, 2016Others lamented Trump's frequent demonization of the press, noting how he often uses the traveling press pool as a punchline or a target at rallies.
don't pose for pictures with men who turn crowds against you
- Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) December 19, 2016All part of the battered spouse syndrome: the more he abuses the press, the more they try to curry favor with him https://t.co/HmcWA5aOUk
- Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) December 19, 2016
Next Story
Saudi Arabia wants China to help fund its struggling $500 billion Neom megaproject. Investors may not be too excited.
I spent $2,000 for 7 nights in a 179-square-foot room on one of the world's largest cruise ships. Take a look inside my cabin.
One of the world's only 5-star airlines seems to be considering asking business-class passengers to bring their own cutlery
From terrace to table: 8 Edible plants you can grow in your home
India fourth largest military spender globally in 2023: SIPRI report
New study forecasts high chance of record-breaking heat and humidity in India in the coming months
Gold plunges ₹1,450 to ₹72,200, silver prices dive by ₹2,300
Strong domestic demand supporting India's growth: Morgan Stanley
