Trump trolls White House press corps with 7:30 am start on a day he has no public duties

President Trump has arrived at Palm Beach, Florida, to spend Christmas at Mar-a-Lago

President Donald Trump, who arrived at his Palm Beach resort on Wednesday to spend the final Christmas of his presidency at Mar-a-Lago, has found what journalists are calling “a way to stick it to them" — by scheduling a White House correspondents call at 7:30 am on the day before Christmas.  

The daily guidance and press schedule for Thursday, had a note that said, “As the Holiday season approached, President Trump will continue to work tirelessly for the American People,” adding that his schedule include “many meetings and calls.”  This comes even as the outgoing president does not have any public duties for the day, drawing reactions from White House correspondents. 

“As Trump arrives at Mar-a-Lago for the holidays, his daily guidance for tomorrow includes this unusual note,” tweeted Rebecca Ballhaus, the White House correspondent for Wall Street Journal. 

“A way to stick it to the WH press corps he hates is a 7:30 AM call time on Christmas Eve for a currently empty public schedule (sic),” wrote Maggie Haberman, the White House correspondent for New York Times. 

Zeke Miller, the White House reporter for AP also echoed the sentiments, adding that his early call time is “indicative of golf".  

The President’s departure to Mar-a-Lago, where he has vacationed 31 times since his presidency, comes amid significant controversy and chaos, including his challenge to the election result, pardoning war criminals and uncertainty over the fate of $900 billion worth covid-19 relief fund. 

Mr Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen in an interview with MSNBC had said that there’s a good chance that the President will stay in Florida until the election has been settled.

“I would not be shocked if there is no concession speech at all. My theory is that at Christmas time he goes to Mar-a-Lago. I think he will stay there through the inauguration. I would not be shocked if he will not show up to the inauguration either,” Cohen said.