How reporters have become addicted to dialing Donald Trump

Reporters say Trump's personal number is a well-kept secret.

“In Washington, access to power usually comes through carefully arranged press briefings and official interview requests”

The Times of India

He has fielded dozens of impromptu calls, often answering without screening and launching into brief, off‑the‑cuff conversations about politics and the Iran conflict.

The Times of India

Semafor described this as a new media ritual in which reporters hope he will pick up.

Calls come at all hours—late at night when Trump can’t sleep, after a round of golf when he’s in a good mood, or while he’s watching television in the evening.

Trump conducted more than 30 cell-phone interviews, speaking to reporters from outlets including The New York Times and Washington Reporter.

The Times of India

ABC News’ Jonathan Karl and Rachel Scott each conducted separate interviews on the same day, with Trump telling them how well the Iranian operation was going.

Some journalists even try moments after he posts on Truth Social, believing he’s then most eager to share his thoughts.

A White House official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Trump did not take the calls seriously and sometimes used them for amusement.

“In Washington, access to power usually comes through carefully arranged press briefings and official interview requests”

The Times of India

When the President picked up, 'he is often preoccupied, puts them on speaker in front of a large group of people, and he is loosely chatting and has fun messing with them,' the official said.

'Reporters who think they are being serious journalists by calling him are frankly doing themselves a disservice.'

The Atlantic recently noted, 'Few of these interviews have led to a lasting impact on the nation’s understanding of the war.'

A journalist compared it to Frodo with the ring, admitting it is dangerous but compelling.

The Times of India

Early last week, after what felt like the 50th exclusive phone interview, the writer described testing the idea of obtaining the President’s number and calling him without asking colleague Shelby Talcott, to test whether possessing the number was a 'holy grail' of access journalism.

The Atlantic reported that Trump’s number may be for sale to the highest bidder.

It said Trump’s personal cell-phone usage increased between his two terms, as he swapped Manhattan-area-code numbers for a Florida number that began to circulate, and started texting more regularly with friends, businesspeople and influential Republicans.