Thread by @benrileysmith

Belated plug - over Christmas @Telegraph ran a longish read on what it’s like covering Trump press conferences.

What really goes on, what gets missed when footage is clipped up, what it reveals about the president.

👇Piece below if that’s your bag👇
telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/2…

It’s this type of thing...

Three things especially jump out that aren’t always obvious from clips of his pressers.

1) Humour. Often it’s self-aggrandising or demeaning. But every press conf I’ve been to some reporters have stifled laughs at something Trump said.

Trump once interrupted a bald hack, saying “you’ve got a good head of hair”. Then urged him to remove his hat + show the room. Cruel but it got laughs.

He often muses on whether he’s the best president ever or just in modern times. (Usually he puts Lincoln 1st, but Trump 2nd.)

2) Candour. Trump almost always speaks his mind whatever the topic, even if it might create negative headlines. Brilliant for reporters - hit the right qu + he’ll walk into a story.

Here’s one small example from November that sprung to mind. V different from other politicians.

3) Length. When Trump feels he’s got something to sell his press confs are long. First after midterms was 1hr 27min. Kim Jong-un one was hour+.

When you combine pressers, tweets + reporter huddles I reckon we know more about inner thinking of this president than any predecessor.

Last point - often think about this Trump quote from Art of the Deal. 32 years ago he already understood deeply how to generate headlines.

Seems to underpin so much of Trump’s media strategy (and presidency). He knows exactly what to say to dominate the airwaves.