"Hello, this is Donald Trump."
President Donald Trump has been personally answering reporters' phone calls instead of holding official briefings since launching "Operation Epic Fury," a military strike against Iran, on April 28. This unconventional approach upends traditional presidential communication, which has typically emphasized carefully crafted messages on sensitive diplomatic and security matters.
Late Evening Is Prime Time for Reaching Trump
According to U.S. outlet Semafor on May 16, Trump has conducted more than 30 brief phone interviews with media outlets over the past month since the operation began.
Reporters dial the president's personal number directly, and Trump answers for five to 10-minute conversations. Semafor described this as "a new form of journalism."
Trump's personal phone number has reportedly become something of a shared resource among White House correspondents in Washington. PBS White House correspondent Liz Landers posted on X that she "spoke briefly with the president this morning and asked about Iran," sharing details of the conversation. Axios reporter Barak David has also reportedly spoken with Trump four times.
As prominent journalists share their conversations with the president in real time, tips on optimal calling times have spread among news outlets. Semafor reported that "calling during late evening hours, when Trump spends time watching TV, yields higher response rates." Conversely, many reporters have noted receiving curt responses in early morning calls.
A Communication Style Dating Back to His Real Estate Days
Trump's approach traces back to his days as a New York real estate developer. As a businessman, he routinely took reporters' calls and discussed any topic. During his first term, he occasionally called journalists directly to explain policies.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump is "the most transparent and accessible president in history" and "nobody represents himself better than he does."
Limitations of Brief Calls: Security Concerns and Media Fatigue
However, Trump's unconventional communication raises security concerns. Critics warn that the president's personal cell phone conversations could become targets for foreign intelligence agencies. Nevertheless, Trump and his inner circle reportedly dismiss such risks.
Fatigue is also emerging within the U.S. media. Critics note that calls are too brief for substantive questions and answers, offering less informational value than Trump's own posts on Truth Social. Some also worry that news outlets competitively branding short phone conversations as "exclusives" degrades journalistic standards.
