Trump Pulls Off Historic Cabinet Meeting That Stands in Sharp Contrast to Biden’s Approach

On Thursday, former President Donald Trump presided over a cabinet meeting that could be one of the most transparent gatherings in U.S. history — a sharp departure from the style seen under President Joe Biden.

Early in the meeting, which was opened to the press, Trump praised his team, saying, “Everyone at this table is doing an incredible job.” He emphasized the significance of the event, adding, “These meetings are very good, and … I don’t believe there’s any other president that allowed the press to come into a meeting such as this. These are very sacred meetings. These are very private meetings, but we have nothing to hide.” Trump further drove home his point: “We want to be transparent.”

Reporters were allowed to remain in the Cabinet Room throughout the meeting as each department head provided updates. The session lasted over an hour, with Trump answering media questions for roughly 20 minutes afterward.

Among the major highlights, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared that a multinational study his department is overseeing should reveal by September "what caused the massive autism epidemic in the U.S.” Trump remarked, “There will be no bigger news conference than that.”

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick spoke about America’s booming trade discussions, noting, “I’m not sure we could ever have enough time in the day to talk to all these countries [that want a deal] … because they want to talk, and they want to talk now." He credited Trump’s leadership, stating, “We’re getting the respect we deserve now.”

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard made headlines by announcing the imminent release of documents tied to the 1968 assassinations of Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., promising it would happen “within the next few days.” Upon hearing this, Secretary Kennedy thanked Trump, saying, “I’m very grateful to you, Mr. President.”

On immigration policy, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the administration will continue revoking student visas and deporting noncitizens involved in pro-Hamas protests. Rubio made it clear: “If you come here to … vandalize a library, take over a campus, and do all kinds of crazy things, you know, we’re going to get rid of these people.” He likened the situation to personal hospitality, explaining, “A student visa is like me inviting you into my home. If you come into my home and put all kind crap on my couch, I’m going to kick you out of my house. And so that’s what we’re doing with our country, thanks to the president.”

Public reaction to the meeting was overwhelmingly positive. One social media user celebrated the event, saying, “These on-camera cabinet meetings are so awesome. The transparency is fantastic. The whole Federal government just telling the American people exactly what they’re doing on our behalf.” Attorney and author David Limbaugh echoed the sentiment, posting, “Just watching some of this cabinet meeting. Impressive and inspiring/encouraging.”

The open and extended nature of Thursday’s meeting drew a stark contrast to how such meetings were handled during the Biden administration. For instance, during a September 2022 cabinet gathering, the media was permitted in the room for a mere seven minutes, during which Biden briefly responded to two shouted questions before aides escorted reporters out.

Similarly, another cabinet session in September 2024 featured only short introductory comments by Biden before first lady Jill Biden largely took over. That meeting lasted about eight minutes — and it was the only full cabinet session Biden held that year. In total, Biden conducted nine full cabinet meetings during his entire presidency, compared to Trump’s three already held this year.

Trump’s latest cabinet meeting showcased an administration emphasizing openness and direct communication with the public, while Biden’s meetings often appeared structured to minimize media interaction.