The Wall Street Journal on Thursday asked a simple question about Donald Trump’s latest clash with the media.
“What was the point for Mr. Trump of provoking this in the first place?” asked the newspaper’s conservative editorial board, which has taken the president to task on multiple issues during his second term.
“No President in history has enjoyed TV attention more, and banned media can continue to report on the Administration, albeit without the TV cameras,” it noted of the former reality television personality.
The board recounted how a federal judge issued a temporary order early Thursday to pause Trump’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS NOW from the White House grounds while litigation proceeds.
And the editorial concluded with a pointed dig at Trump’s well-documented love of the limelight:
Rumors are that Mr. Trump has occasionally considered moving the press corps instead into a nearby building. Today’s briefing room used to be a swimming pool. Perhaps it will be again. But does Mr. Trump love swimming, or does he love being on TV?