President Trump may attack the media more than any modern president, but he also consumes more of it, according to current and former White House officials. The commander-in-chief begins each morning channel surfing between Fox News, CNBC, CNN, and other networks, then reads the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and New York Post cover-to-cover with Sharpie in hand. His executive assistant, Natalie Harp, carries a portable printer to supply him with hard copies of articles throughout the day, earning her the nickname "the human printer" and making her one of the most influential news gatekeepers in Washington.
What the Left Is Saying
Critics on the left argue Trump's media diet raises concerns about information quality and presidential focus. The Guardian reported that Harp's role in curating Trump's news flow has drawn scrutiny, particularly after she forwarded articles from conspiracy-minded outlets. Some White House sources told RealClearPolitics they question her news judgment, though her influence remains largely unchecked by Chief of Staff Susie Wiles because Harp's desk sits closer to the Oval Office.
Democrats and media watchdogs point to the February incident when Trump posted, then deleted, a video depicting Barack and Michelle Obama as apes. The president claimed he didn't see that portion of the clip, but critics questioned how a self-described news junkie could miss such content. The New York Times noted that Trump receives "intercepts" — unvetted information texted directly to him by members of Congress and other interested parties — which staffers describe as a "burdensome distraction" that sometimes prompts sudden policy shifts.
Progressive commentators also highlight Trump's Fox News preference as evidence of an information bubble. The Cut described Harp as "somehow even more sycophantic than the usual freaks in Trump's orbit," while NPR questioned whether Trump's media consumption habits contribute to declining trust in journalism, given his frequent attacks on outlets he simultaneously reads religiously.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives praise Trump's media consumption as strategic leadership. "You can't win battles unless you know your enemy," Hogan Gidley, who served as principal deputy press secretary during Trump's first term, told RealClearPolitics. "He knows the enemy because he reads them." Multiple White House officials described Trump as "a news junkie" who maintains an unmatched finger on the pulse of American concerns.
Former Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney recalled Trump reading newspapers so thoroughly that he would call Cabinet members about stories concerning their departments before they'd seen the coverage themselves. "He reads constantly," one current Cabinet secretary told RCP, noting that front-page news often drives the morning agenda. Trump frequently writes notes to columnists and reporters, autographing pieces he agrees with or explaining at length what he found objectionable.
Supporters argue Trump's extensive media diet demonstrates dedication rather than distraction. White House spokeswoman Liz Huston said, "No president in history has a better finger on the pulse of what the American people truly care about than President Trump. That's because President Trump is an extraordinarily avid consumer of information — always up to date on the news of the day so he can highlight his administration's historic achievements and hold the legacy media accountable whenever they spread fake news."
Republicans point to Trump's business background and reality TV experience as preparation for this media-centric approach. Towson University political scientist Martha Joynt Kumar noted that "communications was critical to everything he did in business and later with 'The Apprentice,' where he learned how to deal with the world of television." The White House disputed characterizations that Trump rarely watches One America News and Newsmax, noting interviews he's done with both networks.
What the Numbers Show
Trump reportedly sleeps just four hours per night, using the remaining time for news consumption and official duties. He reads four major newspapers cover-to-cover daily (New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Post) plus USA Today and the Financial Times. Former aides say boxes of articles, books, and magazines were regularly loaded onto Air Force One to maintain his interest during travel.
The president's television viewing centers almost exclusively on Fox News, though he channel surfs through CNBC, CNN, and the former MSNBC during morning hours. Four cable channels would play simultaneously on mute in his private office during his first term, allowing him to toggle between shows. He now uses TiVo — which he calls "one of the greatest inventions of all time" — to catch up on cached programming after the workday ends.
Trump's preference for hard copies over digital content persists despite the New York Times selling more digital than print subscriptions. After signing a drug pricing deal, he complained that the Times buried the story "way in the back of the paper," remaining obsessed with front-page real estate even though the story "lives forever online." More than half a dozen current and former White House officials agreed on one assessment: "He is a news junkie."
Natalie Harp, 35, serves as executive assistant to the president and occupies an office just outside the Oval. She travels everywhere with a portable printer and emergency battery pack to ensure hard copies are always available. While some in Trump's orbit question her news judgment, her influence as "the most powerful news aggregator in all of Washington" remains largely unchecked.
The Bottom Line
Trump's voracious media consumption represents a paradox in modern politics: the president who most frequently attacks journalism may also be its most dedicated consumer. This dual relationship — simultaneously critic and customer — shapes both his policy decisions and his public messaging. The practice of calling Cabinet members about morning news coverage means journalism directly influences the administration's daily agenda, while Trump's preference for hard copies and cable news gives traditional media formats outsized influence despite declining industry trends. Whether this information diet strengthens or weakens presidential decision-making depends largely on one's view of Trump's judgment and the quality of information reaching him through gatekeepers like Harp. What's undisputed is that Trump's media habits are unprecedented in scope and intensity, making him perhaps the most news-obsessed president in American history.