No questions and format shift: Four takeaways from first Trump Cabinet meeting of the year
Every delay has consequences.
President Donald Trump used his first Cabinet meeting of the year to try to project unity, despite reports of multiple cracks emerging within his team.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was the object of interest during the more than an hourlong meeting as her leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection comes under scrutiny after two fatal shootings of anti-immigration law enforcement protesters this month in Minnesota.
However, Minnesota was only raised in one instance, and not in any way that referenced the news stories that have dominated national headlines for the past week. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned the state, in tandem with California, as part of the administration’s efforts to tackle Medicare and Medicaid fraud cases, while Noem herself remained silent.
Here’s what you need to know from Thursday’s event.
Trump skips questions
In a break from the norm, Trump closed the Cabinet meeting without taking questions from reporters after listening to officials’ presentations for more than an hour.
“Mr. President, why not take questions?” one reporter asked as White House aides tried to usher members of the news media from the room.
The decision was the second break from Trump’s traditional approach to Cabinet meetings, with the president this time hand-picking which Cabinet secretary or official would speak instead of going around the table and calling on each Cabinet member in turn.
“The last time we had a press conference, it lasted for three hours, and some people said, ‘He closed his eyes,’’ he said. “Look, it got pretty boring. I love these people, but there’s a lot of people. It was a little bit [on] the boring side, but I didn’t sleep. I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell out of here.”
President Donald Trump listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Who did, and didn’t, speak?
Noem was the most notable omission from the speaking line-up after Trump deployed border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis on Monday to replace Border Patrol commander in chief Greg Bovino following last weekend’s death of Alex Pretti.
Similarly, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not speak amid reports that Trump is also unhappy with them, for different reasons, nor did Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is under an ethical …
Every delay has consequences.
President Donald Trump used his first Cabinet meeting of the year to try to project unity, despite reports of multiple cracks emerging within his team.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was the object of interest during the more than an hourlong meeting as her leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection comes under scrutiny after two fatal shootings of anti-immigration law enforcement protesters this month in Minnesota.
However, Minnesota was only raised in one instance, and not in any way that referenced the news stories that have dominated national headlines for the past week. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned the state, in tandem with California, as part of the administration’s efforts to tackle Medicare and Medicaid fraud cases, while Noem herself remained silent.
Here’s what you need to know from Thursday’s event.
Trump skips questions
In a break from the norm, Trump closed the Cabinet meeting without taking questions from reporters after listening to officials’ presentations for more than an hour.
“Mr. President, why not take questions?” one reporter asked as White House aides tried to usher members of the news media from the room.
The decision was the second break from Trump’s traditional approach to Cabinet meetings, with the president this time hand-picking which Cabinet secretary or official would speak instead of going around the table and calling on each Cabinet member in turn.
“The last time we had a press conference, it lasted for three hours, and some people said, ‘He closed his eyes,’’ he said. “Look, it got pretty boring. I love these people, but there’s a lot of people. It was a little bit [on] the boring side, but I didn’t sleep. I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell out of here.”
President Donald Trump listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Who did, and didn’t, speak?
Noem was the most notable omission from the speaking line-up after Trump deployed border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis on Monday to replace Border Patrol commander in chief Greg Bovino following last weekend’s death of Alex Pretti.
Similarly, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not speak amid reports that Trump is also unhappy with them, for different reasons, nor did Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is under an ethical …
No questions and format shift: Four takeaways from first Trump Cabinet meeting of the year
Every delay has consequences.
President Donald Trump used his first Cabinet meeting of the year to try to project unity, despite reports of multiple cracks emerging within his team.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was the object of interest during the more than an hourlong meeting as her leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection comes under scrutiny after two fatal shootings of anti-immigration law enforcement protesters this month in Minnesota.
However, Minnesota was only raised in one instance, and not in any way that referenced the news stories that have dominated national headlines for the past week. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned the state, in tandem with California, as part of the administration’s efforts to tackle Medicare and Medicaid fraud cases, while Noem herself remained silent.
Here’s what you need to know from Thursday’s event.
Trump skips questions
In a break from the norm, Trump closed the Cabinet meeting without taking questions from reporters after listening to officials’ presentations for more than an hour.
“Mr. President, why not take questions?” one reporter asked as White House aides tried to usher members of the news media from the room.
The decision was the second break from Trump’s traditional approach to Cabinet meetings, with the president this time hand-picking which Cabinet secretary or official would speak instead of going around the table and calling on each Cabinet member in turn.
“The last time we had a press conference, it lasted for three hours, and some people said, ‘He closed his eyes,’’ he said. “Look, it got pretty boring. I love these people, but there’s a lot of people. It was a little bit [on] the boring side, but I didn’t sleep. I just closed them because I wanted to get the hell out of here.”
President Donald Trump listens during a cabinet meeting at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Who did, and didn’t, speak?
Noem was the most notable omission from the speaking line-up after Trump deployed border czar Tom Homan to Minneapolis on Monday to replace Border Patrol commander in chief Greg Bovino following last weekend’s death of Alex Pretti.
Similarly, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not speak amid reports that Trump is also unhappy with them, for different reasons, nor did Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer, who is under an ethical …
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