The media’s loathing for Donald Trump is no secret. Yet even his most vocal critics must acknowledge one of his defining traits: accessibility. Love him or hate him, Trump engages—often directly and without the layers of gatekeeping typical of most political figures.
This was evident during his first presidency, buried beneath endless headlines about alleged collusion and controversies, and it remains true as he prepares to take the reins again as the 47th President of the United States.
Stephanie Ruhle of MSNBC recently underscored this point in a revealing discussion on the podcast So Many Issues. Speaking with Lukas Thimm, Ruhle recounted her experience reaching out to Trump following his raucous rally at Madison Square Garden.
She took a gamble, dialing him directly to request an interview on MSNBC, a network that’s been anything but friendly toward him. While Trump declined—predictably, given MSNBC’s reputation—Ruhle emphasized that he answered. That simple act of picking up the phone highlighted an openness rarely seen in today’s political landscape.
🚨 BRUTAL: MSNBC host exposes how trying to get in touch with Kamala Harris was borderline impossible – but that Trump picked up the phone and told her “to go f-k myself” when asked for an interview.
Lmao.
STEPHANIE RUHLE: “I called him on the phone. And he answered! […] I… pic.twitter.com/3BZ1rduvUa
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 17, 2024
Ruhle compared this interaction to her futile attempts to contact Vice President Kamala Harris or President Joe Biden. The process, she quipped, involved navigating a maze of intermediaries.
“I could write a note that maybe could get to somebody, to get to somebody, then through pony express and a pigeon, something might end up in a mailbox near them,” she joked. The point wasn’t lost: even for major media figures, accessing the current administration often feels like an exercise in futility.
The difference is striking. Trump’s accessibility isn’t just a personality quirk—it’s a deliberate strategy. He thrives on engagement, even with adversaries. It’s part of his brand: the man who takes the fight to the people, unfiltered, whether through impromptu press gaggles, marathon rally speeches, or direct responses to journalists who oppose him.
This transparency has always been a double-edged sword. For critics, it fuels controversies, gaffes, and endless soundbites to dissect. But for supporters—and even skeptics—it’s refreshing in a political world often shrouded in carefully crafted statements and layers of bureaucracy. Even Ruhle, who admitted Trump metaphorically told her to “go [expletive] herself,” couldn’t help but admire the directness compared to the current administration’s fortress-like inaccessibility.
