Trump’s must-see TV: Judge Jeanine’s show and her positive take on the president

President Donald Trump and Chief of Staff John F. Kelly do not regularly give on-the-record interviews. But both men recently sat down with Jeanine Pirro, the fiery Fox News host whom President Trump adores, for her upcoming book on the Trump presidency. The White House communications shop arranged the 30-minute interview with Pirro and the chief of staff in the West Wing, two White House officials said. Trump gave her an even longer interview, one of these officials said. The president has also encouraged other advisers to interview with Pirro, officials said.

The cooperation with Pirro further illustrates the inordinate power of the conservative-leaning Fox cable channels on the Trump presidency. The president usually begins his morning with the “Fox & Friends” show on Fox News, often sending tweets that correspond with the show’s headlines and programming. The show even partially fueled his decision this week to call for sending National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. He also watches Sean Hannity’s show in the evenings, regularly calling the host before or after the program to test ideas or give feedback. And he considers Fox Business Network host Lou Dobbs a close adviser. Aides sometimes plot to have guests make points on Fox that they have been unable to get the president to agree to in person. “He will listen more when it is on TV,” a senior administration official said.