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The exchanges recalled that Mr. Trump, who became famous in the Manhattan tabloids and as a reality TV star, often views his interactions with journalists as a role play exercise: the commander-in-chief an army of scouts, with an eye on the viewers at home.
Even inside the ballroom, Mr. Trump's Catskills and discursive riffs caused a mixture of sighs, shaking heads, and muffled laughter. George Washington's material has gained some real gaffes.
When Mark Landler of the New York Times raised his hand, Mr. Trump agreed to phone him "in the honor of a newspaper I once loved."
"We are flourishing, without fail, these days," Landler said.
"Oh, you're doing really well," said the president. "Say," Thank you, Mr. Trump. "I think I'm going to stop," Mr. Landler replied.
Towards the end, Mr. Trump returned to the metaphor of the press conference as a performance. Thinking about when he should conclude, the president invoked his favorite artist, Elton John: "He said," When you hit that last song and that's good, do not come back. "
But if Mr. Trump's sarcastic tone was meant to restart the proceedings, he could not escape the gravity of the current events.
Journalists who asked questions focused on current issues: global trade; US relations with China, North Korea and the Middle East; as well as the Supreme Court's candidate, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, put at risk by the proliferation of allegations of sexual misconduct.
