Trump's daily schedule is often full of nothing
President Trump apparently has plenty of time to think up those off-the-wall tweets he's so famous for.
The leader of the free world's days are often dominated by undefined chunks of "Executive Time," private schedules examined by Politico show. Trump spends much of it "tweeting, phoning friends, and watching television," Politico writes — and he had a whole nine hours of it scheduled last Tuesday alone.
Past presidents notoriously crammed their schedules to make best use of their time. It was their "most valuable commodity," President George W. Bush's former chief of staff Mark McLarty told Politico. But Trump often complained about his rigorous schedule when he first took office. So when White House Chief of Staff John Kelly started his job, he invented "Executive Time," a former White House aide says. And now, senior staffers are reportedly the ones complaining about what he does with it.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump has recently started pushing his commitments later and later in the day, filling his mornings with tweetstorms and hours in front of the TV, another former White House aide tells Politico. Last Tuesday, he kicked off his day at 11:30 a.m. with a meeting, and only had a few other engagements scheduled for the rest of the day. The other nine hours were "Executive Time."
The rest of the week wasn't quite so relaxed as Tuesday, Politico notes. Aides also say Trump often fills those unscheduled hours with impromptu briefings and phone calls. Still, these freewheeling breaks show how "short-term bugaboos become the drivers of [Trump's] agenda, rather than any long-term vision," Politico writes. Read more about Trump's calendar at Politico.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'It may not be surprising that creative work is used without permission'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
5 simple items to help make your airplane seat more comfortable
The Week Recommends Gel cushions and inflatable travel pillows make a world of difference
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US Published
-
Wyoming judge strikes down abortion, pill bans
Speed Read The judge said the laws — one of which was a first-in-the-nation prohibition on the use of medication to end pregnancy — violated the state's constitution
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US sanctions Israeli West Bank settler group
Speed Read The Biden administration has imposed sanctions on Amana, Israel's largest settlement development organization
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Gaetz ethics report in limbo as sex allegations emerge
Speed Read A lawyer representing two women alleges that Matt Gaetz paid them for sex, and one witnessed him having sex with minor
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden allows Ukraine to hit deep in Russia
Speed Read The U.S. gave Ukraine the green light to use ATACMS missiles supplied by Washington, a decision influenced by Russia's escalation of the war with North Korean troops
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sri Lanka's new Marxist leader wins huge majority
Speed Read The left-leaning coalition of newly elected Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake won 159 of the legislature's 225 seats
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden arrives in Peru for final summits
Speed Read President Joe Biden will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, visit the Amazon rainforest and attend two major international summits
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Senate GOP selects Thune, House GOP keeps Johnson
Speed Read John Thune will replace Mitch McConnell as Senate majority leader, and Mike Johnson will remain House speaker in Congress
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump tests GOP loyalty with Gaetz, Gabbard picks
Speed Read He named Matt Gaetz as his pick for attorney general and Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence. Both have little experience in their proposed jurisdictions.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published