New York Times journalist Maggie Haberman has stated that the Trump administration’s claim of Donald Trump being the most transparent president in history is inaccurate. Haberman, speaking alongside her colleague Jonathan Swan, discussed their reporting for their book "Regime Change."
Haberman acknowledged that Trump has made revealing comments and sometimes revealed news by taking direct calls from reporters on his cellphone. However, she characterized these instances as brief, typically lasting around two and a half minutes. According to Haberman, during these calls, Trump dictates the terms of the discussion, which serves as a method to appear transparent.
"I mean, this administration is very good at making shows of transparency," Haberman said. She specifically addressed White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt's repeated assertion that Trump is "the most transparent president in history."
"Which is just simply not true," Haberman stated. She clarified that this assessment is not a rating against other presidents but a judgment on the administration itself. Haberman described the frequent calls as a means to maintain a "veneer" of transparency while allowing Trump to dictate the conversation and avoid answering substantive questions.