Trump’s work day said to start late to allow time for TV, Twitter

The following article by Mike Murphy was posted on the Morningstar website January 7, 2018:

Daily schedule includes hours of ‘executive time,” Axios reports

President Trump arrives back at the White House yesterday after playing golf at his club in Sterling, Va. (Andrew Harnik/AP)

President Donald Trump’s work day has shrunk since the early days of his presidency, Axios reported Sunday (https://www.axios.com/scoop-trumps-secret-shrinking-schedule-1515364904-ab76374a-6252-4570-a804-942b3f851840.html), often not starting until 11 a.m. and including hours of “executive time” that he largely spends watching TV, tweeting and talking on the phone.

Axios, which was shown copies of his private schedules, also reported that Trump is holding far fewer meetings than previously in his term.

Trump’s daily schedule usually has 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. blocked out for “executive time,” according to the report, “but the reality is he spends that time in his residence, watching TV, making phone calls and tweeting.” His work days typically end at 6 p.m. Last month, the New York Times reported (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/us/politics/donald-trump-president.html?_r=1)Trump spends four to eight hours a day watching TV.

His first meeting of the day is often an intelligence briefing at 11 a.m., Axios said. The late start is a significant departure from his predecessors: former President Barack Obama reportedly started his work day between 9 and 10 a.m., and former President George W. Bush started his day around 6:45 a.m.

Trump would have “breakfast meetings” early in his term, but Axios reported he didn’t like the longer work day and pushed for a later start.

While not denying the specifics of the report, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told Axios: “The time in the morning is a mix of residence time and Oval Office time . . . The President is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever seen and puts in long hours and long days nearly every day of the week all year long.”

View the post here.