President engages with critical outlet on domestic, international issues despite public tensions
U.S. President Donald Trump held a nearly 2-hour interview with four New York Times (NYT) reporters in his office on the 7th. The NYT reported that the interview covered a wide range of domestic and international issues, including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shooting incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. strategy toward Venezuela, plans to end the Ukraine war, and White House renovation projects. The NYT, a symbol of the U.S. progressive camp, is politically opposed to the MAGA (Make America Great Again) faction that supports Trump. While Trump has repeatedly criticized the NYT, a flagship of mainstream media, as a “corrupt far-left newspaper,” and filed a $10 billion (approximately 14.52 trillion Korean won) defamation lawsuit against it last year, this interview demonstrated the essence of Trump’s media approach, which does not shy away from engaging with critical press.
Photos released by the NYT on the day showed Trump seated at the “Resolute Desk” in the Oval Office, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, and NYT journalists Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Tyler Fager, Katie Rogers, and David Sanger seated across from him. All are veteran journalists with deep experience in politics, diplomacy, and security. Behind them was Steven Cheung, White House Director of Communications. Though perceived as a pro-Democratic Party outlet, the NYT had no opportunity to interview President Joe Biden during his administration but secured a “major scoop” under Trump. The NYT described the interview as “remarkably broad and a conversation for the official record,” adding, “The president appeared energetic and passionate throughout.” Trump also personally guided the reporters through his residence. On the same day, the ICE shooting of a white woman in Minneapolis sparked national controversy, and Trump called his aide Natalie Harp to play a “slow-motion” video on a laptop, explaining to the press that the victim had “brought it on herself.”
During the interview, NYT reporters were largely unrestricted by White House staff and asked most of their desired questions. The NYT reported that as journalists pressed on various topics, Trump summoned aides to bring official documents, printed materials, and a scaled model of the banquet hall under construction in the former East Wing. Notably, during the interview, Trump held a phone call with Colombian President Gustavo Petro, allowing NYT reporters to listen in on the condition that it remain “off the record.” Though unprecedented to include critical journalists in a leader-level call, even under non-attribution terms, the reporters were present. The call included Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who left after it concluded, and the interview resumed. The NYT stated, “Trump fielded questions on immigration policy, the need for ‘ownership’ of Greenland, and other topics,” and announced plans to publish the full transcript on its website alongside articles, videos, and podcasts.
The Trump administration’s hostility toward mainstream media is beyond imagination. To undermine veteran journalists covering the White House, it has opened its doors to influencers popular among MAGA supporters. On the same day, during a White House briefing, as cameras malfunctioned and emitted noise, Vice President J.D. Vance joked on the podium, “There’s nothing CNN has installed to sabotage me, but don’t even think about it.” When a reporter asked about the ICE shooting, Vance lectured, “You should report the truth. How can you become a propaganda tool for extremists and obstruct our law enforcement?” Despite this, senior officials do not avoid appearing on progressive-leaning networks like CNN and MSNBC to explain and justify government policies. Stephen Miller, the architect of Trump’s anti-immigration policies and White House Deputy Chief of Staff, frequently clashes with hosts during appearances but continues to engage with the press. The most “exemplary” figure is Trump himself, who conducts impromptu “gaggle” Q&A sessions regardless of time or place — whether in the Oval Office, on Air Force One, or before/after helicopter rides. This has led to a joking remark among press corps: “Wherever Trump is, there is a press conference.”
