On his first day in office, President Trump held an extended Oval Office press conference, prompting CNN’s David Axelrod to call it “refreshing.”
Key Facts:
– President Trump spent approximately 45 minutes taking questions from reporters in the Oval Office.
– CNN’s David Axelrod praised the open Q&A, contrasting it with former President Biden’s more limited media availability.
– Trump discovered a letter that Biden left for him, following a long-standing presidential tradition.
– One of Trump’s first actions was to pardon over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, events at the Capitol.
The Rest of The Story:
Trump’s decision to speak freely in the Oval Office just hours after his inauguration drew both commendation and criticism.
David Axelrod, a commentator on CNN, said it was “refreshing” to see a president engage with the media so openly.
He pointed out that these remarks send a message that the new administration plans to handle press matters differently than Biden did.
The CNN panel, which included Anderson Cooper and Kaitlan Collins, noted how rare it is to witness a president conduct a prolonged question-and-answer session in that setting.
Axelrod emphasized that a president’s words can have immediate real-world effects, from shifting markets to influencing national policy.
He felt it was positive for presidents to answer tough questions in person.
Axelrod also criticized Trump’s pardons for the Jan. 6 rioters, saying these were people who pled guilty or were found guilty of serious offenses.
Trump, for his part, referred to the individuals in question as “hostages” and used his presidential power to grant them clemency.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has been instructed to process those pardons right away.
During the press conference, Trump came across a letter left behind by former President Biden.
David Axelrod finds Trump's press conference 'refreshing'. #WolfManMovieDisappoints #LanierDebateEnds@davidaxelrod@realDonaldTrump@FoxNews
Read more: https://t.co/bp1szIu1YJ— David Carlisle (@dqc1985) January 21, 2025
This note continues a custom in which outgoing presidents leave a personal message for the incoming leader.
Although the contents of the letter were not disclosed, its existence was confirmed when Trump stumbled upon it in the Resolute desk.
The Bottom Line:
Trump’s first day in office signaled a shift in how the White House might handle media relations.
Axelrod’s comments reflected a cautious optimism about broader presidential transparency.
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Many are watching to see whether this open-door approach continues or if it was a one-time moment of accessibility.
Either way, the new administration has already made waves on day one.