Trump More Comfortable, Unfettered in Second Term, Journalists Say

President Donald Trump is operating with greater comfort and fewer constraints in a potential second term, according to a panel of journalists who cover his actions. The group noted that his current White House is characterized by "true believers" and "loyalists," a shift from his first administration.

Atlantic reporters Jonathan Lemire, Ashley Parker, Missy Ryan, and Michael Scherer discussed covering the White House and other powerful institutions at The Atlantic's annual festival. Lemire described Trump as "someone who completed, arguably, the greatest comeback in American political history, he trusts his instincts and very few others, and is sort of an unfettered version of himself."

Lemire added that Trump is "more comfortable with the job and how to use the levers of power," including his relationship with the press. Parker suggested that the presence of Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has been beneficial, while Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller is seen as having spent the interim years planning for a more streamlined and effective White House.

Scherer observed that Trump has returned with a more defined vision of what he aims to achieve and its impact on his legacy. "There's sort of a different, almost nostalgic approach he's taking to things," Scherer said. "But it is really about like, ‘This is my last chance to do what I can to get to make my mark.’"

The journalists also commented on the operational differences between Trump's administrations and previous Democratic administrations. Ryan noted a decrease in formal Pentagon press briefings, while Salama mentioned that obtaining exclusive information has become more challenging.

Scherer stated that the reduction in internal leaks indicates a more cohesive operation under Wiles. "The people under her are loyal to her. They're loyal to the president also, but it operates as a functioning organization," he said. In contrast, Scherer recalled the first Trump term as having multiple factions often in conflict, making it harder to obtain inside details, though he noted it is still possible.

He further compared the current White House to "bureaucratic law firms" of the Obama and Biden administrations, suggesting that while access might be more limited now, there is still more openness than in recent Democratic presidencies due to their differing approaches to operations and communication.