On Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump gave an unplanned interview to the New York Times. Trump had just wrapped up a round of golf at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida—A.K.A. Mar-a-Lago—when he sat down with reporter Michael S. Schmidt for a 30-minute impromptu interview in the club's Grill Room. In the discussion, Trump claimed that the media industry will crumble if he loses the 2020 reelection and claimed, "There is no collusion, and even if there was, it's not a crime," when speaking on the alleged illegal ties with Russia.
Now, a report has surfaced stating the White House communications team was less than thrilled with the interview. According to The Washington Post, the interview blindsided the White House. A frustrated aide called the interview "embarrassing." And as news of the interview reached W.H. advisers, communications director Hope Hicks reportedly had a personal aide interrupt the interview with her on the phone.
The Washington Post's report notes that more people could grab the president's ear because Mar-a-Lago has less stringent barriers than the White House. "At Mar-a-Lago, anyone who can get within eyesight changes the game,” a former White House official said. “Everyone who is angling for something knows to be there.”
Trump has been known to let his guard down at Mar-a-Lago, but it's likely his communications team will now strive to monitor his activity there more diligently. You can read the Post's full report here.
