Trump keeps foreign leader talks behind closed doors in marked shift from last year’s theatrics
Ask why this angle was chosen.
President Donald Trump blazed into his second term, boasting of being the most transparent leader in modern times.
But just one year later, Trump has turned away from hosting foreign leaders in front of the press as the reality of a tough midterm election year has encroached upon the administration’s ability to shape political narratives.
The president met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning in a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting to discuss the ongoing U.S. negotiations with Iran, the peace deal in Gaza, and the new Board of Peace.
Netanyahu entered the White House after his motorcade drove along West Executive Avenue, away from the media’s view.
The two leaders did not hold a joint press conference afterwards. Trump did not take questions about the meeting despite appearing for a Champion of Coal Event in the East Room. But Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that it was a “very good meeting” and that “there was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated.”
The approach mirrors that Trump has used when meeting with Venezuela’s opposition leader in January and Colombian President Gustavo Petro earlier this month. The reticence is a marked difference from last year, when Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump administration at the White House. That visit included a public press conference where Trump announced his intention for the U.S. to “own” the Gaza Strip and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Republicans claim that Trump’s quiet approach could be at the behest of the foreign dignitaries, who might be seeking to avoid embarrassing public spats.
“This is probably more of foreign leaders insisting they didn’t want to be cornered live on TV for the world to see,” said one Republican, who requested anonymity. “There’s something to be said for candid discussions in a proverbial smoke-filled back room.”
A second Republican with ties to the White House said the reason meetings have become closed to the press is to avoid muddying sensitive ongoing negotiations, in contrast to last year, when Trump was pushing forth his “Liberation Day” tariffs with foreign nations.
“At the end of the day, what the White House understands is they want to avoid a real-time media interpretation that could complicate ongoing deals,” said the Republican. “They want to control the entire narrative of the …
Ask why this angle was chosen.
President Donald Trump blazed into his second term, boasting of being the most transparent leader in modern times.
But just one year later, Trump has turned away from hosting foreign leaders in front of the press as the reality of a tough midterm election year has encroached upon the administration’s ability to shape political narratives.
The president met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning in a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting to discuss the ongoing U.S. negotiations with Iran, the peace deal in Gaza, and the new Board of Peace.
Netanyahu entered the White House after his motorcade drove along West Executive Avenue, away from the media’s view.
The two leaders did not hold a joint press conference afterwards. Trump did not take questions about the meeting despite appearing for a Champion of Coal Event in the East Room. But Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that it was a “very good meeting” and that “there was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated.”
The approach mirrors that Trump has used when meeting with Venezuela’s opposition leader in January and Colombian President Gustavo Petro earlier this month. The reticence is a marked difference from last year, when Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump administration at the White House. That visit included a public press conference where Trump announced his intention for the U.S. to “own” the Gaza Strip and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Republicans claim that Trump’s quiet approach could be at the behest of the foreign dignitaries, who might be seeking to avoid embarrassing public spats.
“This is probably more of foreign leaders insisting they didn’t want to be cornered live on TV for the world to see,” said one Republican, who requested anonymity. “There’s something to be said for candid discussions in a proverbial smoke-filled back room.”
A second Republican with ties to the White House said the reason meetings have become closed to the press is to avoid muddying sensitive ongoing negotiations, in contrast to last year, when Trump was pushing forth his “Liberation Day” tariffs with foreign nations.
“At the end of the day, what the White House understands is they want to avoid a real-time media interpretation that could complicate ongoing deals,” said the Republican. “They want to control the entire narrative of the …
Trump keeps foreign leader talks behind closed doors in marked shift from last year’s theatrics
Ask why this angle was chosen.
President Donald Trump blazed into his second term, boasting of being the most transparent leader in modern times.
But just one year later, Trump has turned away from hosting foreign leaders in front of the press as the reality of a tough midterm election year has encroached upon the administration’s ability to shape political narratives.
The president met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday morning in a two-and-a-half-hour closed-door meeting to discuss the ongoing U.S. negotiations with Iran, the peace deal in Gaza, and the new Board of Peace.
Netanyahu entered the White House after his motorcade drove along West Executive Avenue, away from the media’s view.
The two leaders did not hold a joint press conference afterwards. Trump did not take questions about the meeting despite appearing for a Champion of Coal Event in the East Room. But Trump claimed in a Truth Social post that it was a “very good meeting” and that “there was nothing definitive reached other than I insisted that negotiations with Iran continue to see whether or not a Deal can be consummated.”
The approach mirrors that Trump has used when meeting with Venezuela’s opposition leader in January and Colombian President Gustavo Petro earlier this month. The reticence is a marked difference from last year, when Netanyahu was the first foreign leader to visit the Trump administration at the White House. That visit included a public press conference where Trump announced his intention for the U.S. to “own” the Gaza Strip and turn it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”
Republicans claim that Trump’s quiet approach could be at the behest of the foreign dignitaries, who might be seeking to avoid embarrassing public spats.
“This is probably more of foreign leaders insisting they didn’t want to be cornered live on TV for the world to see,” said one Republican, who requested anonymity. “There’s something to be said for candid discussions in a proverbial smoke-filled back room.”
A second Republican with ties to the White House said the reason meetings have become closed to the press is to avoid muddying sensitive ongoing negotiations, in contrast to last year, when Trump was pushing forth his “Liberation Day” tariffs with foreign nations.
“At the end of the day, what the White House understands is they want to avoid a real-time media interpretation that could complicate ongoing deals,” said the Republican. “They want to control the entire narrative of the …
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