WASHINGTON — A significant challenge has arisen for the White House stenographers: the sheer volume of words being spoken by Donald Trump, who seems to be on a mission to make his voice heard at every opportunity. The amount of his speech on Inauguration Day reached over 22,000 words, and during trips to disaster sites in North Carolina and California, it increased to an additional 17,000 words. This creates a heavy workload that is testing the stamina of even the most seasoned stenographers, especially after experiencing a comparatively quieter administration under Joe Biden.
Amid this situation, talks are underway about potentially bringing on more personnel to handle the growing demands of documentation, as disclosed by anonymous sources familiar with these discussions. Trump’s rhetorical barrage represents a striking change between his administration and Biden’s. Trump has mastered the political spotlight and knows that media attention translates into power, propelling him to communicate almost incessantly since his return to office. This relentless stream of rhetoric effectively suppresses dissenting opinions, challenging his adversaries to be heard amidst the din.
For instance, on a recent Wednesday, Trump participated in a signing ceremony for legislation aimed at expediting deportations. During this event, he boasted about his achievements, made unsubstantiated claims regarding Hamas’s alleged use of U.S.-funded gloves to craft explosives, defended federal spending freezes, and detailed issues of migrant violence. He also made a rather unexpected announcement about utilizing Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, as a detention center for undocumented individuals in the U.S.
Trump’s remarks often include dubious statements, such as overwhelmed claims about voter fraud and assertions that California’s water regulations exacerbated the recent wildfires. At times, he veers into significant geopolitical discussions, recently suggesting forced displacement for Palestinians to construct a new Gaza. His comments often force listeners to question their validity, particularly when he casually entertains the idea of running for a third term, which contradicts the U.S. Constitution.
However, with Trump reclaiming the presidency, ignoring him has become increasingly difficult. “He’s dictating the news on his terms,” noted Michael LaRosa, a former spokesperson for Jill Biden. “He’s become America’s assignment editor.” Unlike most presidents who seek to initiate their terms with a decisive impact, Trump has established a distinct rhythm of engagement.
For context, Joe Biden, during his initial week in office, logged 2 hours and 36 minutes of talk time, incorporating 24,259 words, according to data analyzed by Factba.se. In stark contrast, Trump clocked in at approximately 7 hours and 44 minutes, delivering an astounding 81,235 words last week. This sheer volume surpasses a marathon watching of the original “Star Wars” trilogy back-to-back and exceeds the collective word count of Shakespeare’s works “Macbeth,” “Hamlet,” and “Richard III.” Comparing with Trump’s first term, the statistics show an increase from 3 hours and 41 minutes and 33,571 words back then.
Having spent decades honing his skill at garnering attention, Trump’s strategies date back to his tenure as a New York entrepreneur, where he played the media like a maestro, gilding his properties and branding his name across multiple products. His celebrity reached a zenith with the reality TV show “The Apprentice,” which introduced him into the living rooms of countless Americans.
Kevin Madden, a Republican communications strategist, noted, “One of the things that has given him the advantage is that he thinks like an executive producer. He’s constantly programming the next hour and trying to keep his audience engaged.” This approach became evident shortly after Trump’s inauguration. He provided an inaugural address but continued to expound his thoughts to supporters, even delivering more extensive remarks during a rally and answering queries from journalists in the Oval Office.
At one moment, he turned to Fox News reporter Peter Doocy, inquiring, “Does Biden ever do news conferences like this? How many news conferences, Peter, has he done like this?” To which Trump concluded with a definitive, “None.” On a busy Friday, Trump exemplified his readiness to embrace unscripted moments, engaging with the press numerous times as he transitioned through different activities, from greeting reporters in North Carolina to addressing storm recovery efforts.
As his itinerary continued through the weekend, Trump engaged twice more with the press aboard Air Force One — matching Biden’s entire term in terms of press interactions. “Transparency is back!” proclaimed longtime aide Margo Martin on social media. Yet Kathleen Hall Jamieson, the director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, argues that being available does not equate to being transparent.
Jamieson expressed concern that an overwhelming amount of talk might lead to confusion rather than clarity. An instance occurred when Trump claimed there were “no surprises” regarding two Republican senators’ votes against a Pentagon nomination, only to express surprise the following day when those votes materialized. She worries that such a frantic pace might cause citizens to disengage from the news cycle, noting, “An informed citizenry is an engaged citizenry.”
Kate Berner, who was part of Biden’s communications team, highlighted that Trump’s relentless communication keeps his opponents unsettled. “By doing so much and saying so much, it is hard for people who oppose him to organize,” she explained, “and it is hard for any one thing to take hold.” Nonetheless, Berner warned that Trump runs the risk of tiring the public if he isn’t cautious. “If he’s not careful,” she cautioned, “he could once again start wearing out his welcome with the American people.”
