One of the more prestigious jobs in American journalism – working from the White House, traveling with and writing about the President of the United States – has become a high-stakes, rapid routine of unpredictability, uncertainty about basic facts and, as always, long days and nights in the West Wing and on the road.
“I feel blessed and fortunate to do this work, which has always been arduous. Everything up-ends so quickly now. If you have a plan for your day, a social media post can wreck it.” That is the professional life of Josh Boak, a Bolton Hill MARC train commuter to DC, covering the Trump White House. He had the same job during the Biden presidency and some experience during President Trump’s first term. The contrasts are many.
An example: Trump announced in 2025 that the Gulf of Mexico would be renamed Gulf of America, and Google Maps began using “Gulf of America” for users in the U.S. A global news organization, AP, said that it would continue using Gulf of Mexico while noting Trump’s decision to rename it. The President restricted AP’s’ access to events and news briefings. A judge found that the First Amendment prohibited such punishment, but some seemingly retaliatory treatment persists:
- Historically AP reporters have been among a small pool of journalists accompanying the president when he travels: “We go where he goes.” Although Boak or other AP writers are sometimes allowed on Air Force One, in compliance with the court ruling, often AP has to fly commercially, apart from the White House entourage.
- A few days ago Boak asked a straight-forward question at a White House briefing on the war in Iran. A short time later an AI-generated meme of a “baby AP reporter” confronting Trump appeared on social media – “just part of what the briefing has become. My daughter thinks it’s funny.”
INSERT BABY REPORTERS MEME
“That’s me on the left”
He noted that press events often are less important than the follow-up calls, interviews and research that are at the core of daily journalism. “I see my job as accurately covering what the president says, both in terms of substance and style, without any editorial comment.”
The barrage of presidential announcements that appear on Truth Social (which Trump owns) and other social media – often after midnight – generates “news” because they are written by, or for, the President of the United States, Boak said. But often they announce actions that never take place or misstate facts. “Our job has become a constant search for facts and context, because we write for the entire world.”
For example, within days of the Supreme Court (Feb. 20) ruling shutting down the President’s trade tariffs, he reinstated 10 percent across-the-board tariffs and the next day announced they would jump to 15 percent. But that has not happened.
“People across the political spectrum really care … and that requires me to reward their interest by being aggressively curious, humble and fair.” For all of that, “It is sort of inspiring to walk into the West Wing every morning.” The office there has seven AP text reporters.
“China his wife, seehttps://boltonhillmd.org/bulletin/china-terrell-wants-the-state-to-do-more-for-baltimore/) brought Elaine’s Girl Scout troop to visit the AP bureau. That was great.” Elaine, their 9-year-old daughter, is a student at Bryn Mawr School. Home is on Bolton Street with a new family dog, Loki, a BARCS refugee. “He has a big bark for his size.”
“It’s an incredible neighborhood,” Boak said. “We do the Soup Night parties and meet fascinating neighbors.” The family accompanied him to South Florida for an extended Trump-watch stay during the Thanksgiving holidays.
–Bill Hamilton
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