Amna Nawaz
@PBSNewsHour·5.3M subscribers·62.2K videos
Is President Trump a ‘hobbyist’ in chief?
Posted
June 29, 2026
Views
13,505
Likes
1,305
Engagement
9.66%
June 29, 2026
13,505
1,305
9.66%
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2:26Now PlayingCompared to other issues, such as the economy, energy prices, housing, war in the Middle East and U.S. relations with Europe, President Donald Trump's efforts to remake Washington, D.C., don't matter all that much.
But, moderator Jeffrey Goldberg said, they are representative of the broader chaos in foreign and domestic policy. Plus, he added, they tell us about the president's approach to leadership and governance.
"He is a hobbyist who happens to be president," The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer told Goldberg. "He's getting to do his hobby with public taxpayer dollars to whatever extent he wants. Part of this is also that he conflates national greatness with what he can do."
Washington Week with The Atlantic is a partnership between @PBSNewsHour , WETA-TV and @TheAtlantic airing every Friday on PBS stations nationwide. Tap the link in Washington Week's bio to watch this week’s episode.
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