Oval Office press conferences retreat as foreign visits go behind closed doors

Trump has stopped staging public Oval Office press conferences with visiting leaders, a trend fueled by foreign leaders’ dislike of the live‑camera format and Trump’s own weariness with the show. Many encounters have shifted to private or behind‑the‑scenes discussions, though a press availability could reappear if the German chancellor’s working visit proceeds amid Iran strikes. The shift signals a broader move away from televised, high‑drama diplomacy toward more controlled diplomacy and raises questions about how public messaging and alliances are managed going into elections.