What if Trump held a press briefing and nobody came?

Fantine · Jun 18, 2025

I had the misfortune of watchig one this morning. Reporters would ask questions, and he would start extemporaneously inventing the most bizarre and outrageous scenarios, usually ending with self-praise because he saw himself as so much smarter than the person he was criticizing.

After two or three of these forays, I wondered why they even bother to ask questions. All the press is doing is giving him the time to spread lies, hatred, and revenge fantasies. Did he really answer one of the questions about Iran by talking about how he had won the 2020 election, everyone knew he did, Democrats tinkered with the vote. Really? Yes, really.

And then, "Are you going to bomb Iran?" To which he said maybe yes, maybe no, he won't know until it happens.

CNN related later that a source confided that Trump had already drawn up bombing plans and authorization the night before.

And then I just SMH. Because if he did that, we'll be reading about it in "The Atlantic" tomorrow morning.

No more press briefings--don't give him the opportunity to obfuscate, threaten, bully, insult, revisit past grievances...Give him one chance to answer a question. If he doesn't, leave with your microphone and camera, saying "No air time for you!"

Chesterton · Jun 19, 2025

Fantine said:
And then, "Are you going to bomb Iran?" To which he said maybe yes, maybe no, he won't know until it happens.

Great question. Like that time in early June 1944 when a reporter asked FDR "are you going to invade the coast of Normandy?"

Always in His Presence · Jun 19, 2025

One of the strengths of a Democracy is that the media is designed to be unbiased - they should not have the power to determine what is reported and what is not - that is a description of a media in a totalitarian nation - which we are not.

Fantine · Jun 19, 2025

Always in His Presence said:
One of the strengths of a Democracy is that the media is designed to be unbiased - they should not have the power to determine what is reported and what is not - that is a description of a media in a totalitarian nation - which we are not.

Let's get real. If Oscar the Grouch or Big Bird held a press conference reporters wouldn't go because they knew the answers to the questions they needed answers to wouldn't be forthcoming. So why should they even bother asking questions of a president whose answers to questions are no more factual, relevant, or intelligent?

And, TBT, a leader who refuses to answer questions, spouting irrelevant gibberish with zero transparency, is a totalitarian leader.

rambot · Jun 19, 2025

Always in His Presence said:
One of the strengths of a Democracy is that the media is designed to be unbiased - they should not have the power to determine what is reported and what is not - that is a description of a media in a totalitarian nation - which we are not.

Sorry. Who do you THINK should be "determining" what is reported by the media?

rambot · Jun 19, 2025

Fantine said:
I had the misfortune of watchig one this morning. Reporters would ask questions, and he would start extemporaneously inventing the most bizarre and outrageous scenarios, usually ending with self-praise because he saw himself as so much smarter than the person he was criticizing.

After two or three of these forays, I wondered why they even bother to ask questions. All the press is doing is giving him the time to spread lies, hatred, and revenge fantasies. Did he really answer one of the questions about Iran by talking about how he had won the 2020 election, everyone knew he did, Democrats tinkered with the vote. Really? Yes, really.

And then, "Are you going to bomb Iran?" To which he said maybe yes, maybe no, he won't know until it happens.

CNN related later that a source confided that Trump had already drawn up bombing plans and authorization the night before.

And then I just SMH. Because if he did that, we'll be reading about it in "The Atlantic" tomorrow morning.

No more press briefings--don't give him the opportunity to obfuscate, threaten, bully, insult, revisit past grievances...Give him one chance to answer a question. If he doesn't, leave with your microphone and camera, saying "No air time for you!"

He's a misanthrope who is filled with vitriole and self importance.

That some don't see it as a clinical problem at his levels, just goes to show you have television and popular culture have normalized some seriously unhealthy behaviour patterns.

Always in His Presence · Jun 19, 2025

Fantine said:
Let's get real.

That would be a welcome change.

Fantine said:
If Oscar the Grouch or Big Bird held a press conference reporters wouldn't go because they knew the answers to the questions they needed answers to wouldn't be forthcoming.

I thought we were getting real? Do you believe Oscar the Grouch etc is a real person?

Fantine said:
So why should they even bother asking questions of a president whose answers to questions are no more factual, relevant, or intelligent?

Just because you do not like his answers - does not negate that they are in fact answers. He does quite often make extemporaneous comment on his predecessor, but it is part of his personality.

As for sharing plans to bomb a foreign adversary - why on earth would he give specifics, or share any information? People are still screaming about a text message that contained no sensitive message and are now screaming that the President will not reveal battle plans on national television

Yes please, let's get real.

Fantine said:
And, TBT, a leader who refuses to answer questions, spouting irrelevant gibberish with zero transparency, is a totalitarian leader.

That is a very accurate description of the last Administration and the former president who had a hard time stringing two sentences together and could not remember what Executive Orders he supposedly signed. If one does not have an issue with him - they should love the present President, one of the most accessible in history.

rambot said:
Sorry. Who do you THINK should be "determining" what is reported by the media?

No one - the public is well able to hear and understand for themselves - they are not mindless lemming needing to be told what to think.

Perpetual Student · Jun 19, 2025

Always in His Presence said:
One of the strengths of a Democracy is that the media is designed to be unbiased - they should not have the power to determine what is reported and what is not - that is a description of a media in a totalitarian nation - which we are not.

On the contrary- a free press has the freedom to exactly report what they want. Who else would decide what to be reported? The state? That would be totalitarian.

Perpetual Student · Jun 19, 2025

Fantine said:
And then, "Are you going to bomb Iran?" To which he said maybe yes, maybe no, he won't know until it happens.

CNN related later that a source confided that Trump had already drawn up bombing plans and authorization the night before.

If I were the president I would have phrased it slightly different, but wouldn't have answered that question either. Remember the outrage - the totally justified outrage - of Peter Hegseth inviting a journalist in a chat group discussing the bombing of Houti rebels. You don't spread that kind of information.

Always in His Presence · Jun 19, 2025

Perpetual Student said:
On the contrary- a free press has the freedom to exactly report what they want. Who else would decide what to be reported? The state? That would be totalitarian.

Why do you think I said - NO ONE

rambot · Jun 19, 2025

Always in His Presence said:
No one - the public is well able to hear and understand for themselves

Not if the news media doesn't report on it.

- they are not mindless lemming needing to be told what to think.

And yet the left has been characterized this way very often...for some crazy reason.

Always in His Presence · Jun 19, 2025

Fantine said:
And then, "Are you going to bomb Iran?" To which he said maybe yes, maybe no, he won't know until it happens.

Here - let's look at the Presidents actual words:

“I may do it, I may not do it,” Trump said of a potential U.S. strike in another exchange with reporters at the White House on Wednesday. “I mean, nobody knows what I’m going to do.” “Nothing is finished until it is finished,” he added, signaling a decision could soon. “The next week is going to be very big — maybe less than a week.”

The video of his quotation is in the link.

The two quotes sound nothing alike.

Always in His Presence · Jun 19, 2025

rambot said:
Not if the news media doesn't report on it.

You realize we are supporting the same position - right?

Perpetual Student · Jun 19, 2025

Always in His Presence said:
Why do you think I said - NO ONE

How do you think newspapers are written or news sites are published or radio bulletins are read? What do you think reporters on the ground do? They report. That is what editorial boards do. News doesn't generate itself out of thin air. there are people behind it, who make decissions.

Always in His Presence · Jun 19, 2025

Perpetual Student said:
How do you think newspapers are written or news sites are published or radio bulletins are read? What do you think reporters on the ground do? They report. That is what editorial boards do. News doesn't generate itself out of thin air. there are people behind it, who make decissions.

It seems you are being purposely obtuse - look at the OP and then look at my reply -

Gregory Thompson · Jun 19, 2025

Fantine said:
What if Trump held a press briefing and nobody came?

He'd probably set up a gallery of stuffed animals and address the crowd.

Say it aint so · Jun 19, 2025

What's the difference between having a press conference where you just make things up, or just doing the same on Truth Social.

Just the other day India, kind like the President of Mexico had to do numerous times, called Trump out for making up the claim that he was behind the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. That flood the zone with you know what strategy works.

Vambram · Jun 19, 2025

Fantine said:
And, TBT, a leader who refuses to answer questions, spouting irrelevant gibberish with zero transparency, is a totalitarian leader.

This type of leadership honestly is a great description of Joe Biden and his Administration, in my sincere and respectful opinion.

rambot · Jun 19, 2025

Always in His Presence said:
Why do you think I said - NO ONE

Editorial boards

Always in His Presence · Jun 19, 2025

rambot said:
Editorial boards

Rootbeer floats

What if Trump held a press briefing and nobody came?

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