Writers Ashley Parker and Michael Scherer of The Atlantic have gained invaluable insights during their extensive coverage of President Donald Trump. One key takeaway? Trump’s first word is rarely his last. This sentiment is vividly illustrated by their complex experience in securing interviews with the Republican president, which included an unexpected late-night “butt dial” and a surprising invitation to their editor, Jeffrey Goldberg, who had been criticized by Trump just weeks prior.
Last Thursday’s interview prompted a significant “stop the presses” moment for The Atlantic. Just as they were finalizing Parker and Scherer’s piece for the June issue, titled “Trump is Enjoying This”, they had to call it back to include new material. This article, which was published online on Monday, originated before an inadvertent inclusion of Goldberg in a critical Signal chat among administration officials concerning a possible military action in the Middle East.
The writers, who transitioned to The Atlantic from The Washington Post, initially pitched an interview focused on Trump’s unexpected political comeback. However, on March 17, just days before their scheduled meeting, Trump publicly labeled Parker as a “Radical Left Lunatic,” claiming she was incapable of conducting a fair interview. Trump further asserted that Scherer’s previous articles about him were “virtually all LIES,” leading to the cancellation of the interview. The writers speculated that someone in Trump’s circle influenced this decision.
Despite the cancellation, Scherer took the initiative to call Trump directly on a Saturday morning in late March, armed with the president's cellphone number. When Scherer identified himself, Trump acknowledged him, stating, “You never write good about me, Michael. Never, ever.” Surprisingly, this led to an impromptu interview.
On April 12, eager for follow-up questions, the writers reached out to Trump again, only to find that he had inadvertently called Scherer’s phone at 1:28 a.m. the next day, leaving no message. After a formal request for an in-person interview was declined, the White House unexpectedly reached out nine days later, inviting them to the Oval Office—and notably requested that Goldberg join them.
Goldberg had previously criticized Trump in an article about being included in a sensitive group chat, which had sparked significant embarrassment for the administration. In a striking turn, Trump labeled Goldberg a “truly a sleazeball,” while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called him a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.” On his Truth Social platform, Trump stated his intention to interview Goldberg out of curiosity, questioning whether The Atlantic could produce a fair story about him.
During a briefing for “new media” on Monday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt likened Trump’s willingness to engage with the press to his diplomatic interactions with global leaders like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. She emphasized that Trump believes in direct communication, whether with adversaries or journalists.
Upon entering the Oval Office, Trump greeted Goldberg with a warm handshake, although many aides appeared visibly uncomfortable. Goldberg noted that if he had been called the names Trump used, he would find such an encounter deeply awkward. However, Trump views these interactions as part of a performance or game.
Scherer described the interview process as a negotiation, emphasizing that for Trump, everything is transactional. Understanding the value of an interview to The Atlantic, Trump seemed more interested in acknowledging Goldberg’s past criticisms than discussing the national security issues raised in the Signal story.
Goldberg recognized Trump’s peculiar charm during their meeting, noting that the president was less focused on the implications of the story and more on conveying, “Well, you won.” As they continue to cover Trump, Parker and Scherer remain committed to offering an insightful analysis of a figure who is as complex as he is controversial.
