President-elect Donald Trump has been under fire by the media for not holding a formal press conference since his election. As members of the press continue to count the days — 10, 11, 12 — since Trump took their questions, the president-elect has opted to issue a YouTube video update on his transition to power and his plans for his first days in office. Trump's video message, 2 minutes and 37 seconds long, assures the American people that his transition team is "working very smoothly, efficiently and effectively" and reminds the public that the incoming president's agenda is "based on a simple core principle: putting America First." Trump then outlines executive actions he plans to take on trade, energy, regulation, national security, immigration and ethics reform.
Releasing a YouTube video allows Trump and his team to control the message they want out and how the president-elect looks in delivering it. And while questions about the new administration are still swirling — Will Trump address conflicts of interest? Will he further address the expressions of hate that have occurred since the election? Who else will he name to top posts? — by releasing a scripted, pre-recorded video Trump can bypass those pesky questions and anything else he doesn't want to be part of the show.
Trump reportedly made his displeasure with TV reporters clear at an off-the-record meeting Monday with representatives from major TV news organizations including ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC and NBC. “The meeting was a total disaster," one source told the New York Post. "The TV execs and anchors went in there thinking they would be discussing the access they would get to the Trump administration, but instead they got a Trump-style dressing down."
In his video message, the president-elect does promise to provide more updates in the coming days. So keep an eye on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
