Inside Trump's Head The Real Reason Trump Runs America Like a TV Show
33 snips
Dec 26, 2025 
Michael Wolff, a sharp-eyed author and journalist who has extensively covered Donald Trump, dives into the fascinating role of television in shaping Trump's presidency. He reveals how Trump views politics as a performance, treating the White House like a reality show set. Wolff explains Trump’s reluctance to read briefings, using media cues instead. From casting his cabinet like a reality TV show to measuring success by ratings, Wolff illustrates how Trump’s strategies are rooted in spectacle rather than governance.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
He Sees Himself As A Star
- Donald Trump primarily sees himself as a star, not a politician, and television is his operating system.
- Fame via TV shaped his goals and informed how he runs politics as performance.
TV Replaced Briefings And Hearings
- Trump rarely reads briefings and also often does not listen, so television became the primary channel to convey information to him.
- Staff learned to reach him by getting messages onto TV rather than through papers or meetings.
Politics Became Performance
- Trump collapsed the distinction between politics and television, treating governance as stagecraft rather than institutional practice.
- This theatrical mode leaves traditional politicians and institutions baffled and disadvantaged.
