On April 14, LCI viewers had the first opportunity to listen to a conversation with the US president himself. Although it lasted 20 seconds and Trump spoke extremely laconically, the conversation nevertheless became a media event.
Good morning, Mr. President, this is Margot Haddad from French TV, do you have five minutes?
I can't talk right now, but everything is going very well. I love France.
What would you like to say to Emmanuel Macron?
I'm at a meeting, I'm directly dealing with what's happening in Iran. I can't talk right now, but we're doing great and I love France.
The second conversation with Trump took place five days later. It was a bit longer.
He is writing a book about the US president. “He knew who I was”
Margot Haddad is working on a book about Donald Trump's presidency. She took the time and resources to be able to contact him.
— I was told that he knew that I was writing a book about him and that I was in contact with his relatives, so he knew who I was. Considering the number of messages I sent to him, he had my number in his phone – says the journalist who gave an interview to the television supplement of the newspaper “Le Figaro”.
“I made many trips to Washington and was able to reach out to unconventional circles,” Haddad explains. — I got his number two months ago, during my last stay in Washington. What did I have to lose? Worst case scenario, he would hang up the phone. It's crazy that he answered! This breaks all the rules of normal communication.
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“I tried again and to my surprise he picked up”
— I met White House correspondents who managed to get his number. I thought, why not try my luck since I'm writing a book about him and I know his immediate surroundings? Thanks to contacts that take time to establish and maintain, I finally had the opportunity to take a risk and ask if someone would give me the number of the President of the United States. And it worked, he tells the French newspaper.
— Not everyone will give you Emmanuel Macron's mobile number; this is usually done through trusted channels. That's why I emphasize the importance of preparations, this journalistic “legitimacy”. It's very complicated and can take months. The French public should not think that Trump's number can be obtained just like that. It's a long-term journalistic process, Haddad emphasizes.
Emmanuel Macron and Donald Trump in front of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, December 7, 2024.EPA/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON / POOL / PAP
Once she got Trump's private number, she tried calling him about 30 times before he finally answered. And at the least expected moment. — It was an ordinary day, I was waiting for a home delivery. I tried calling again and to my surprise he answered. I immediately ran to get the recorder, she says in an interview with “Le Figaro”. She suspects that she is the first French journalist who managed to establish direct telephone contact with Donald Trump.
Haddad recalls that when she was in the White House, press secretary Karoline Leavitt kept repeating that Trump was “the most accessible president in the history of the United States.” The journalist emphasizes that Donald Trump knows the media and needs them, even if he despises them.
“Washington is huge and yet very small”
Margot Haddad, a French-American journalist born in Jordan, graduated in history from the Sorbonne and then in international relations and journalism from Columbia University in New York.
She started her career as a reporter in Washington for Itele and Canal+, worked at BFM TV, and later worked for CNN for almost 12 years. Since 2022, Haddad has been one of the main figures of the LCI channel, where he hosts programs devoted to international and defense issues.
— I'm going to Washington next week; Maybe I'll get to see it in person, who knows. Washington is huge and yet very small… when you know the right paths, Margot Haddad told Le Figaro newspaper.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
