It’s more or less become common knowledge that Donald Trump spends a great deal of his day watching television and tweeting, what has since been come to be known as the president’s “Executive Time.” But what most people didn’t know (but could probably have assumed) was just how much of Trump’s day is spent unstructured. Newly-leaked private White House schedules published by Axios, however, put that time to around 60 percent.
Starting on Wednesday, November 7, the day immediately after the midterm elections, Trump has spent around 297 hours of the past three months in Executive Time, according to 51 private schedules Axios has obtained. During these hours, particularly in the morning, Trump spends his time not in the Oval Office but his private residence quarters, watching TV, reading newspapers, and reacting to the things he sees and reads on the phone with various friends and advisors, and of course, on Twitter.
The concept of Executive Time was apparently introduced by former chief of staff John Kelly, to deal with the fact that Trump disliked being locked into a formal schedule.
Though the extent of Trump’s time spent tweeting and watching TV is not at all surprising, “Executive Time” soon began trending on Twitter after the report dropped as people mocked and ridiculed the president for looking pretty lazy.
Just checked my leaked schedule and noticed I will be enjoying “unstructured #ExecutiveTime ” tomorrow during SOTU. Will delegate DVR, catch a horror movie (a fictional one) and wear out the >> button during my next scheduled work minutes. Then golf. https://t.co/xTPF6ReIzO
— Robert Picardo (@RobertPicardo) February 4, 2019
Starting my Monday off with a little #executivetime pic.twitter.com/0OTAuxUGG9
— Allison Mueller (@AllisonFMueller) February 4, 2019
MEDIA: #ExecutiveTime
AMERICA: THE PRESIDENT SITS TO WATCH @FOXNEWS FOR 7 HOURS A DAY WHEN THE U.S. IS LITERALLY FIGHTING IN 7 WARS.
— Ryan Deitsch (@Ryan_Deitsch) February 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/B52Malmet/status/1092468174124171265
Yes, you should name your daycare center "Executive Time."
— L O L G O P (@LOLGOP) February 4, 2019
President Executive Time literally spent the entire weekend waddling his fat ass all over a golf course and today my mentions are overrun with nitwit Deplorables screaming at me about how hard he works and holy shit I've never met a group of idiot rubes more willing to be conned
— Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) February 4, 2019
His printed schedule shows that Trump spends 60% of his day in vague "executive time", which is how a child wearing a bowtie describes carrying an empty briefcase to the bathroom#ExecutiveTime
— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) February 4, 2019
Sarah Sanders on Trump's #ExecutiveTime: "President Trump has a different leadership style than his predecessors and the results speak for themselves."
Actually, this statement is pretty accurate.
— Nick Jack Pappas (@Pappiness) February 4, 2019
Trump promised healthcare. Nope.
Trump promised infrastructure. Nope.
Trump promised middle class relief. Nope
Trump promised Mexico would pay for a wall. Nope.
Trump spends 80% of his days watchin' tv and eating god knows what. Yep.#executivetime #Trump
— Keith M. (@ksecus) February 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/matthewjdowd/status/1092266776849727488
Some people, on the other hand, pointed that the less work Trump does is probably for the best.
Could be worse. Can you imagine how bad it would be if Trump worked MORE ?!?? #ExecutiveTime
— Sally Kohn (@sallykohn) February 4, 2019
https://twitter.com/brian_h_reich/status/1092456067550887937
We are all GLAD Donald Trump is a shiftless slob who spends his days golfing, tweeting, watching TV and eating cheeseburgers. Imagine if he were actually engaged.
Stay lazy af, boss. #ExecutiveTime pic.twitter.com/Uz5ACettUI
— Don Frances (@MrDonFrances) February 4, 2019
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement that Trump “has a different leadership style than his predecessors and the results speak for themselves.”
“While he spends much of his average day in scheduled meetings, events, and calls, there is time to allow for a more creative environment that has helped make him the most productive President in modern history,” she continued. How one can be productive while sitting in front of the TV is a mystery.