That’s 19 weeks and two days, or more than four months.
Since then, the following things have happened without Trump making himself available to free-ranging questions from an array of news outlets:
Trump got in a fight with the Khan family.
Trump’s campaign manager was revealed to have ties to Ukraine.
Trump fired his campaign manager after hiring Kellyanne Conway and Stephen K. Bannon.
Trump went to Mexico.
Trump copped to being rude sometimes.
Trump told black Americans that they had “nothing to lose” by voting for him.
The first debate.
The second debate.
The third debate.
The hot-mic tape.
The allegations of sexual abuse.Oh, also he won the presidency.
I know nobody cares about this around here, but I keep bringing it up, partly to be fair to HRC, and partly because I find the fact that political people don’t care to be really puzzling. We can say “The press sucks, who cares?” but they are the only (Washington) press we have, and in the absence of facing them directly, the President-Elect gives speeches to friendly crowds asking friendly questions.
The old normal was no picnic, but if this is the new normal, it’s worse.
Peter Porcupine says
What possible motivation would he have for doing so?
He is in the news more than if he did hold a press conference. The media keeps speculating and making stuff up in order to have SOMETHING to fill their 24 hour news cycle, but they look increasingly ineffectual and marginal.
And every person who ever screamed at a TV set broadcasting smug condescension is applauding.
JimC says
He’s about to become President.
Traditionally they are expected to deal with the press. You have no problem with his current mode of communications?
centralmassdad says
For the most part, the media simply publishes his press releases.
Trump tweets that he will stay out of his business operations to fix the conflict problem, and the the media reports: TRUMP MOVES TO FIX CONFLICT OF INTEREST, and then at the bottom, some line that says that Dr. Dingleberry Schmucklefuck of the Institute for Observing Actual Things disputes Trumps claims,
What good did it do?
I’d rather see the good folks at the Washington Post keep at it, and they don’t need to be spoon-fed pablum in order to report things.
Christopher says
They can keep reporting what Trump says without a press conference, but they should have a chance to ask him questions. During the campaign I would agree he got a lot (actually too much) free media without them and like Clinton gets to choose his strategy. Now that he is the alleged President-elect he may want to start doing them.
JimC says
Since Trump is breaking from tradition, I think the burden of proof is on him.
Christopher says
…unless of course you were talking about Hillary:) They HAVE breathlessly reported everything he says because it’s good copy.
Peter Porcupine says
So what do you think of Sec. of State Guiliani?
Christopher says
…but I saw reporting tonight indicating he is no longer in the running.
johntmay says
It will be run by a very wealthy family and the father of the family is our president. He has surrounded himself in his cabinet with his wealthy friends and quite a few generals.
Gee, I think I just moved to somewhere in South America?
pogo says
…he does not need the media. I’d expect about 1 press conference a year…and they will probably be punched events like the time Trump pushed his steaks and wine at one infomercial / press conference.
Christopher says
…and they ask him questions he is willing to answer via that medium, there is still a moral obligation to get outside the bubble.
jconway says
Of course all Trump would do is lie and get away with it, like he always does.
AmberPaw says
He gets the words he wants out there without any pesky questions and on his own schedule.