Departing for Marine One on Friday, President Trump repeated a familiar refrain. And it is a striking pattern in a White House that has held fewer press briefings than the previous two administrations. Trump has defended his administration’s curtailed daily White House briefings by arguing that informal press “gaggles” offer as much, or more, access. (Ironically, Trump has called the press “out of control” for “shouting” questions in the briefing room, something the president encourages in front of Marine One.) And that’s the way the White House wants it.”Philip Bump contributed to this report.

Source: Washington Post March 12, 2019 19:10 UTC