On the first couple’s recent trip overseas, Melania Trump’s television aboard Air Force One was tuned to CNN. President Trump was not pleased.I think that last line is what the UPDATE at the top of the article is referring to when it says: "Updated July 25, 2018: This story has been updated with a response from the East Wing. Read more coverage about the first lady."
He raged at his staff for violating a rule that the White House entourage should begin each trip tuned to Fox — his preferred network over what he considers the “fake news” CNN — and caused “a bit of a stir” aboard Air Force One, according to an email obtained by The New York Times. The email, an internal exchange between officials in the White House Military Office and the White House Communications Agency last Thursday, also called for the ordering of two additional televisions to support Beam, a TiVo-like streaming device, to make sure the president and first lady could both watch TV in their separate hotel rooms when they travel.
At the end of the email chain, officials confirmed that tuning the TVs to Fox would be standard operating procedure going forward. On Wednesday, Mrs. Trump’s spokeswoman issued a statement to CNN saying that the first lady watches “any channel she wants.”
The "read more coverage" link takes us to "Melania Trump Can Watch Whatever She Wants on TV, the East Wing Says" (which doesn't really add much, other than a nice photograph of Melania, in spiffy clothes, a few words about what TV shows she does like, and a digression into the topic of that "I really don't care" jacket she wore the other day).
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75 comments:
There is absolutely no question that this story deserves top billing over the minor item that the NORKS have been disassembling their missile facilities. The NYT has its priorities straight, thank God.
Unconfirmed: She still only gets 2 scoops of ice cream.
NYT has a team of reporters working on it.
Why do they need streaming devices to watch TV in their hotel rooms? Don't hotel rooms already come equipped with TVs? Also, is it legal to use those sorts of devices when overseas? I, uh, occasionally use a VPN to access US streaming services when I'm overseas (and sometimes vice-versa), but I know the services try to block it because their rights are limited by region. I'd assume it's similar with broadcast services, in that they don't necessarily own the rebroadcast rights overseas . . .
Ivana Trump could not be reached for comment.
I'm surprised that there hasn't been more commentary about the portion of the recently-released Cohen/Trump tape wherein they were talking about how they would fight a New York Times effort to unseal documents from the Donald/Ivana divorce.
Are the Trump's "separate hotel rooms" in the same hotel? Are the separate rooms needed for all of the late night paperwork that Melania is doing?
Divorce imminent.
All CNN asks is that Melania leave Donald. It's their hearts' goal.
Wait a minute. Did he "rage" or "cause a bit of a stir"?
Re: Chuck:
Are the Trump's "separate hotel rooms" in the same hotel? Are the separate rooms needed for all of the late night paperwork that Melania is doing?
It's probably all the late night shouting at the TV Trump likes to do. He watches a lot of TV.
How does this crap leak out?
How is this news?
@Althouse, I could have sworn you had a tag for "fake news."
Melania can watch "any channel she wants."
Yeah, her and every other person in the United States. How is that news? That's only news if someone believes the outrageous proposition that the President is king of his wife and would want to forbid her from watching certain channels.
Wow. NYT with the hard-hitting National Enquirer/Star/People Magazine level journalism.
Seriously, wtf is this gossip doing in a purportedly serious news outlet?
(Rhetorical question. I know full well the answer is it's fodder for the NYT's core audience)
Melania just remember that what you're seeing and what you're reading is not what's happening-- just listen to Donald he knows best.
Can I have lettuce & pickles with my NYT nothingburger?
roesch/voltaire said...
Melania just remember that what you're seeing and what you're reading is not what's happening-- just listen to Donald he knows best.
Just not the parts about Stormy, Karen and Shera.
Speaking of fake news, I just found out that the claim that Putin was asked if he wanted Trump to win and he responded "Yes I did" was complete bullshit made up by Maddow. Putin's translator was translating a different reporters question at the time. He was answering an entirely different question. And this is evident in the video.
So which of our resident lefties or LLRs pushed that bit of Maddow bullshit? Did any fail to?
Hunter said...
Wow. NYT with the hard-hitting National Enquirer/Star/People Magazine level journalism.
Wrong; the Enquirer would have bought the story for $150,000, buried it, and then gotten cash back from Michael Cohen.
"There is absolutely no question that this story deserves top billing over..."
On a blog, the top is determined by the order of posting and importance and unimportance has nothing to do with it.
But make no mistake: I do not blog based on what is objectively important or even subjectively important. I have my own instinct about what belongs on my blog, and this is emphatically not a newsfeed and should not be read as representing my judgment about how important anything is.
I agree with your implication that war and peace are of the utmost importance but strenuously object to your implication that I'm not blogging right.
I guess my interest in blogging this story is the nonnewsiness of it, as many are commenting.
Sorry to take offense as if I am being criticized for blogging this. If you're criticizing not me but the Times, then I guess we're on the same page.
The email, an internal exchange between officials in the White House Military Office and the White House Communications Agency last Thursday, also called for the ordering of two additional televisions to support Beam, a TiVo-like streaming device, to make sure the president and first lady could both watch TV in their separate hotel rooms when they travel.
A leak, a product placement, and throwing shade at their relationship all in one sentence.
Another day, another story of Trump minutiae. The sound of collective yawns is becoming deafening.
You read a full transcript of what Trump and Putin said at Foreignpolicy.com. Here is one excerpt: Jeff Mason from Reuters: President Putin, did you want President Trump to win the election and did you direct any of your officials to help him do that? [The words in red were omitted from the White House transcript]
PUTIN: Yes, I did. Yes, I did. Because he talked about bringing the US/Russia relationship back to normal.
I thought Khesanh was commenting about the NYT, not the blog. At least that is how I read the comment. It is note worthy from a criticism side of taking "real" journalist seriously, when they find this unserious stuff important to cover. They wonder why they have a credibility problem with Trump voters. It's not Trump's messaging. It is their messaging that's a problem.
The desperation screams off the headlines.
This will surely lead to impeachment. Again.
Wait a minute!!
Beam was a gaming stream from Microsoft. It was re-branded last year as Mixer. Beam no longer exists.
You're trying to tell me that the President, and First Lady play video games. I guess that explains the separate hotel rooms because you don't want your opponent to see your screen!!
FAKE NEWS!!
@AA: I'm definitely with you on this one. Who cares what Melania watches?
The MSM has reached bottom, and is yelling for a fresh shovel.
R/V found the smoking gun.
Americans were TRICKED by Russians into voting against wonderful honest HIllary.
R/V
Your off-topic bullshit has already been debunked. By the Washington Post even.
Try harder.
Sorry folks - but I cannot comprehend that those who like Trump and those of us who believe that he has a too many loose screws rattling around, readily accept his rages and his complaints to whomever is playing Mommy today. If his reactions are truly abnormal - they are Trumpian. If he skirts around the rule of law, he doesn't and if it has anything to do with Putin and the Russians it is OK except Never Trumpers believe he perpetually violates the law for his own wealth and ego - especially when the money laundering action comes through the Rooshans.
So who cares about TV channels? Donald do. And nobody finds it unusual that Trump Tariffs are supposedly working wonderfully according to the stable genius but he is gonna fix the farmer complaints by giving away $12 billion to suddenly needy dirt-scratchers (90% of which are very large corporations). Consumers will now suffer at least 10 percent in retail price increases plus we will absorb $12 billion more in economic destabilization.
Makes all my problems look small...............
Businesses linked to McCaskill’s husband get $131 million in federal dollars
November is coming, Clair McCatkill
In bigger news- Melania watches TV and maybe even CNN.
Updates on our elected President handling the attacks by Fake News Media are the story of "war and peace" in the summer of 2018. And our Commander-in Chief is closing out a victory.
Wondering if Melania will change channels to CNN is like wondering if Eleanor Roosevelt will tell FDR how to handle Churchill and Stalin. Neither one means anything.
Agree with Mr Begley @2:56: how does this crap leak out?
Yet: "After news broke about an airport meeting between former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former President Bill Clinton in the midst of last year’s presidential campaign, the FBI scrambled to identify the source who leaked details about the encounter and discipline him or her, according to emails released on the FBI website on Friday." - Newsweek
Hard hitting investigative journalism by the dogged research staff of the NYT.
Next NYT piece: Melania has in the past gone for Brazilian wax jobs in her private parts, even though many poor women of color with unruly hair growth cannot afford such services.
Banging porn stars is small potatoes compared to telling your wife what television channel she may watch.
If you're criticizing not me but the Times,
That's the way I took it.
It actually would be newsworthy if Trump criticized Melania in front of others for what she was watching on television or if he required her to watch Fox News!
And there is a larger issue: Is he nuts? Is he intemperate? Does he have his priorities straight? Does he respect his wife as an individual?
I think I more or less read both articles I link to and I really don't know what the "stir" looked/sounded like. I mean, maybe it was joking around: "I said all the TVs must be tuned to Fox News!" That could be very funny, but you'd have to be there and be unbiased about sensing the meaning and the effect on others.
If stuff gets leaked, it will be twisted in one direction. To hurt Trump.
I could imagine him having a good relationship with Melania, yet saying "Oh! You're watching CNN. I told you to watch Fox News." That would be funny if they had the right relationship. I mean that's the level I've joked around at with my husbands.
"Are the Trump's "separate hotel rooms" in the same hotel? Are the separate rooms needed for all of the late night paperwork that Melania is doing?"
Chuckles and the NYT - the gold standard in journalism and fake Republican lawyer trolling.
Stay classy!
What's this world coming to when the lady of the house CHOOSES which tv channel to watch! Next you know he'll have to make his own meals. Sad!
-sw
"But make no mistake: I do not blog based on what is objectively important or even subjectively important. I have my own instinct about what belongs on my blog"
That is why we are here, Professor. We like your instincts whether we agree with you or not.
So the Left-Wing Media makes up a fake story about Trump. What could be the reason? What could they want us to do? Hmmmm.
Reminds me of Barack and Michelle insisting that all the TVs be tuned to RuPaul's Drag Race UNTUCKED.
How could Althouse post about this story?
Doesn't she realize that someone on CNN is talking about the Crimea?
And her a Law Professor (retired)
It could be she watches CNN just to annoy Trump.
Spouses do that sometimes.
I simply cannot believe The Disaster Channel hasnt purchased the rights to The LLR Chuck Show.
It has ALL the requisite elements.
Why won't she just watch the Gorilla Channel with him?
No one - even a most devoted spouse - would wish to share bedroom with a person who only sleeps 4 hours out of the 24, and that at random times.
Melania is a professional model and have you ever considered how she got that good at it? Noted the glint in her eyes and the set of her jaw?
I found the TV series Veep on DVD, the first one of which is amusing. Like In The Loop (2009) but not excessively long.
It actually would be newsworthy if Trump criticized Melania in front of others
Maybe, but it is a poorly sourced account, and no evidence presented supports that Trump criticized Melania in front of others. From what is provided, I could write a story that Melania was upset to find her TV tuned to CNN, demanded that Trump take action, and Trump delivered the complaint to AF1 staff to make sure all TV's were tuned to Fox News when they board. Taking the email as being real, and the quoted part as being authentic; all we know is the incident caused "a bit of a stir". And we know Melania watches "any channel she wants". Note, if you click through to the actual response from the First Lady, it doesn't confirm the email.
I would think something so newsworthy about a President would at least be sourced by more than one third party account, and if only one account of the event, that the account actually support the implications provided in the story.
Enjoyed the blog and comments. I'm rollicking!
Blogger Chuck said...
Ivana Trump could not be reached for comment.
More panty sniffing from our "Big C" Chuck.
Chuck reminds me of the Illinois Republicans who gave us Obama.
They would not support their incumbent Senator Peter Fitzgerald. So, they chose Jack Ryan and Axelrod used his Tribune connections to get the judge to unseal the Ryan sealed custody records. Jeri Ryan had made some juicy allegations. like lots of ex-wives do in custody fights, and so we got Obama.
Chuck might have given him advice on how to do it. Lawyer stuff, you know. Michigan is close.
@Ann My top billing comment was aimed at the NYT and how they set priorities. You can remain your eclectic self and I will never (well, hardly ever) complain about what gets top billing.
"There is absolutely no question that this story deserves top billing over..."
Terry Teachout's four rules of modern discourse are worth remembering:
1. How dare you talk about A when B is infinitely more important?
2. If I disagree with you, you’re almost certainly arguing in bad faith and probably evil as well.
3. You are personally responsible, in toto and in perpetuity, for everything that your friends, colleagues, and/or ancestors have ever said, done, or thought.
4. Sentences 2 and 3 do not apply to me.
My god, Melania looks Gorgeous in that shot from Finland that @Nyt used. maybe they want to play this both ways, all ways. In this case she comes out full of spunk & moxie, win win.
Consumers will now suffer at least 10 percent in retail price increases plus we will absorb $12 billion more in economic destabilization.
gadfly is on the case but you had better find something that makes better sense.
So $12 billion is 10% of what ?
In 2012, U.S. farms sold nearly $395 billion in agricultural products. This was $97 billion, or 33 percent, more than in 2007, at the time of the last agriculture census.
So, $12 billion is 10% of $395 billion ?
Got it big guy. Where did you learn math, if you don't mind my asking ?
In fact this is part of a tariff negotiation which you obviously don't understand.
"Axelrod used his Tribune connections to get the judge to unseal the Ryan sealed custody records. Jeri Ryan had made some juicy allegations. like lots of ex-wives do in custody fights, and so we got Obama."
Somehow Blair Hulls's records were also unsealed. He was Obama's Dem primary opponent and favored to beat the unknown and lightly regarded state senator.
Guess what? There were allegations of spousal abuse in the sealed records.
A lot of powerful Chicago lefties went all in on Obama.
A lot of powerful Chicago lefties went all in on Obama.
A lot more than Chicago. Somebody was pushing him and smoothing the way.
We still don't know who.
I remember something about Obama's district being redrawn to include some of the gold coast voters.
Moochelle's daddy being precinct chairman too.
I agree with many others- how is this news? The Paper of Record reports on minutiae like this?
I don't worry about Melania- she seems pretty feisty, and I'm sure she can hold her own with the hubby.
I am interested in watching tv when I travel. I would guess the Trumps stay in suites with multiple rooms (as my husband and I do when we can). They may even travel with their child.
I googled for Beam and Beam TV and all I got were a Phillipine broadcaster, a sound bar, a podcast site and the Microsoft game streamer now called Mixer mentioned above. The sound bar plugs into the HDMI slot so it probably wouldn't be required in a hotel with current equipment.
I suspect the Times may be the victim of a hoax email.
Somebody was pushing him and smoothing the way. We still don't know who.
Unless they were Iranian they sure as hell didn't get their money's worth.
Blogger Earnest Prole said...
Somebody was pushing him and smoothing the way. We still don't know who.
Unless they were Iranian they sure as hell didn't get their money's worth.
Like ValJar and her friends ?
Who knows?
Chuck said...
"Are the Trump's "separate hotel rooms" in the same hotel? Are the separate rooms needed for all of the late night paperwork that Melania is doing?"
Chuckles, are you sure that thing you have in your mouth is a dick? Does it taste like a dick? I mean, before, not after.
7/25/18, 11:10 PM Delete
Blogger roesch/voltaire said...You read a full transcript of what Trump and Putin said at Foreignpolicy.com
--
Ok, mr. off topic..provide a courtesy link. I don't see it there.
Well..it is here:
https://www.vox.com/2018/7/16/17576956/transcript-putin-trump-russia-helsinki-press-conference
Michael K said...
gadfly is on the case but ... you obviously don't understand.
7/25/18, 5:51 PM
Edited for brevity, Mike.
Given the absurdity of the Beam reference, this could be another canary trap/barium meal designed to winkle out leakers.
An intelligent press, which evidently does not exist, would be watching for personnel changes at WHCA/WHMO.
Shouldnt this have a ‘making Trum look bad’ tag?
I suspect that this is completely different from what actually happened. Based on how trump talks - generally with authority - it was probably a simple question ‘why are you watching CNN?’ turned into a Trump rage. They probably has a normal spousal discussion about a completely innocuous thing.
All juice for grocery stand rags along side the ‘Aliens are my babies’ headlines.
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