There was an old game show called "Who Do You Trust?" Started out with Edgar Bergen, then Johnny Carson as host. Married couples were asked a question, and the husband had to decide whether to answer it himself or trust his wife.
Donald has created his own show called "Who Are You With?" It happens each time a reporter asks a question he doesn't want to answer. It's now his go-to tactic instead of saying, "That was a nasty question" or "You are a nasty person."
It happens on a regular basis. It can happen once on Air Force One and you're never invited back.
It can happen in an impromptu Oval Office press conference and you also never find your way back in.
Note that you cannot remember that last time Trump did a real formal news conference. It's because he hasn't done one since taking office. He's afraid of the format because he's not in control and newspeople do follow up questions from other reporters.
Washington Post reporter Michael Birnbaum asked, "Is Putin disrespecting you by attacking Ukraine while you tried to bring peace to the country?"
Trump: "What did he do? Is he disrespecting me? Who are you with?"
Birnbaum: "The Washington Post."
Trump: "You've lost a lot of credibility."
Trump never answers the question and moves on to another reporter.
He got the Wall Street Journal on May 6th.
Trump: "Who are you with? The Wall Street Journal has truly gone to hell. It's a rotten newspaper. Did you hear what I said? It's a rotten newspaper."
On May 7th (X), a reporter was asking about the reported clash between Marco Rubio and Elon Musk.
Trump: "You're not supposed to be asking that question... Who are you with?"
Reporter: "NBC."
Trump waved him off and asks if there are any more questions.
On May 5th on Air Force One (Facebook).
Trump: "You're so bad, that's why nobody watches you anymore. Who are you with? Who are you with? You're with who?"
Reporter: "Hearst."
Trump: "I didn't know there was such a thing."
Feb. 11th on Air Force One:
Trump: "I don't even know what you're talking about. Neither do you. Who are you with?"
Reporter: "Huffpost, sir."
Trump: "Who? I thought they died."
On March 12, in the Oval Office with the Irish Prime Minister, Trump was asked about his proposal about expelling the Palestinians to create a Gaza Resort.
Trump: "Nobody is expelling any Palestinians. Who are you with?"
Patsy Widakuswara: "I'm with Voice of America, sir."
Trump: "Oh, no wonder." And Trump waved her off.
On March 18th, Trump was asked about his use of the autopen after having criticized Biden of his use and Trump said the only used it for unimportant papers.
Trump: "I'll sign them whenever I can, but when I can't, I use autopen. But to use them for what they've used them for is terrible." As the reporter attempted a followup. "Who are you with?"
Reporter: "NBC News."
Trump: "I don't want to talk to NBC anymore. I think you are so discredited." Once again he followed with his dismissive hand wave.
This is what we get out of Trump these days. The White House press briefings in the Brady Room just gives Karoline Leavitt fodder for her social posts on X. Softball and Trump leaning questions are asked. The White House Correspondents' Association no longer controls the rotation of news organizations at White House press briefings or who gets to fly on Air Force One.
Those allowed in the Oval Office for questions with dignitaries present are also under White House control, along with when Trump takes questions as he signs executive orders and proclamations.
The hard questions are few and far between, and Trump just ignores them with his use of "Who are you with?" There now can be a punishment for newspeople simply doing their job, which is reporting on the president with more than a White House handout.
That's what dictators do. Control the narrative. Put unfriendly news media out of business. Change history to mean what they want it to mean.
And it all starts with that innocent, "Who are you with?"
