President Trump just used the White House press briefing room for a publicity stunt

WASHINGTON — President Trump made his first appearance ever in the White House press briefing room on Thursday, but he didn’t take any questions from the media. Instead, Trump used the occasion to pursue a political battle with Congress, trotting out burly Border Patrol union representatives to endorse his plan to build a wall on the Mexican border.

Trump’s use of the briefing room for what was essentially a publicity event comes at a time when his administration is largely avoiding the press, and it prompted angry and incredulous responses from reporters.

“Why come out here?” one reporter shouted as Trump departed after just over eight minutes.

Much of the federal government has been shut since Dec. 22 in a stalemate with Congress over Trump’s demand for over $5 billion to begin construction on the wall. Democrats have refused to provide the funds. Trump used his appearance in the briefing room to make the case that a wall, or “barrier” as he has taken to calling it, is an urgent matter of national security.

In prior administrations and earlier in Trump’s tenure, briefings with the press secretary and other officials were held multiple times a week. However, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders has held only four briefings since last September, about one a month.

The lack of briefings isn’t the only way the Trump administration has retreated from the press. Trump rarely holds organized solo press conferences and the White House communications operation often simply ignores press inquiries. It has been described by some veteran White House reporters as the least responsive in modern history. The silence has led to criticism from Trump allies and constantly swirling rumors of imminent staff departures. One former White House official recently described the situation to Yahoo News as a “zombie comms shop.”

Trump’s appearance initially seemed like an almost unprecedented surprise briefing. It began with an abrupt announcement over the White House loudspeakers that Sanders would be holding a briefing in five minutes. In prior administrations, briefings were typically announced the night before they were held. The few recent briefings in Trump’s White House have been held with a few hours’ notice.

Sanders appeared first and apologized for the “short notice” before introducing Trump.

“I’d like to welcome a very special guest for an appearance here in the briefing room, our very great President Donald J. Trump,” Sanders said.

“Hello everybody,” Trump said to the assembled reporters. “This is a beautiful place. I haven’t seen it.”

Trump then introduced the group standing behind him, seven men and one woman, as “people that have been extremely supportive of what we’re doing on the border” and said they all worked for the Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump invited them to “say a few words about the wall.”

“You can call it a barrier. You can call it whatever you want, but essentially we need protection in our country. We’re going to make it good,” Trump said.

Three men who identified themselves as leaders of the National Border Patrol Council, a union that represents Border Patrol agents and support staff, spoke briefly in support of the wall and the president’s willingness to shut down the government for it.

After the men made their remarks, Trump said they were at the White House for a previously planned meeting when he decided to bring them into the briefing room.

“This meeting was set up a long time ago. It just came at a very opportune time and I thought — we were all sitting in the Oval Office working on different plans. … I just appreciate them being here, I said, ‘Let’s go out see the press you can tell them about the importance of the wall,” said Trump.

Trump thanked the group for coming and noted that it was unusual for him to be in the briefing room.

“I’m glad we came out here and first time I’ve ever done this. It’s the first time I’ve done it,” Trump said before turning back to the men. “I’ve done it for you and I’m very proud of that because you have done a fantastic job.”

Trump concluded by addressing the reporters.

“Thank you all very much. Appreciate it,” Trump said before stepping away from the podium and exiting the briefing room.

As he left, Trump ignored questions shouted by the reporters seated in the briefing room.