Jonathan Karl says Trump takes reporters’ calls unlike past presidents: ‘I called and he answered’

WASHINGTON, DC: Jonathan Karl says President Donald Trump keeps a surprisingly open line with reporters. Even when something major is happening, Trump often answers the phone himself.

Karl discussed this while describing what it is like to cover the White House. He said Trump’s habit of picking up the phone and speaking directly with journalists sets him apart from past presidents he has covered.

Trump regularly takes reporters’ phone calls

Karl said he has covered and spoken with many presidents, but Trump is the most consistent in answering reporters’ calls.

“I've covered five different presidents. I have never seen one other than Donald Trump, who regularly takes phone calls from reporters, so I thought I would talk a little bit about that.”

“I've spoken to him over the phone three times since the military operation, the war against Iran started. In each of those cases, I simply called him and he answered.”

Karl explained that he has spoken with the president several times by phone since the US military campaign against Iran began.

Jonathan Karl details phone call with Trump

Karl said one recent conversation occurred when he contacted Trump to confirm reports that the president was planning to remove Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem from her position.

“I talked to him today during the middle of the afternoon and the call lasted for about 20 minutes.”

“When I called, I was actually calling to ask him if he was firing Kristi Noem because ABC News was about to report that had happened.”

During the call, Trump told the reporter he was reviewing a statement announcing the leadership change while sitting with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

“And he told me was sitting there with Marco Rubio and he started to read the statement to me and then he pressed send and said, look, you can see it now, you can see it now.”

Karl said Trump began reading the statement aloud before publishing it online.

Trump discusses Iran conflict with Jonathan Karl

Karl said the conversation later shifted to the growing conflict involving Iran, which has become a defining issue for Trump’s second term.

According to the ABC correspondent, the president sounded confident while discussing the military campaign.

“He clearly feels that he is a president right now that is almost unlimited in his power, and he feels that he can do wrong. And he told me, well, in the first term, I built the military. In my second term, I am using it.”

“He had just fired his secretary of Homeland Security, just replaced her. And, you know, he's available and talking about it. It's It's very unique, let's just say it that way, it's a very unique situation.”