Trump to sit down for first television interview in more than a month

President Trump will sit down for an interview with Fox News on Thursday, his first one-on-one with media in more than a month.

The network said “Fox and Friends” personality Ainsley Earhardt will interview the president and first lady Melania Trump during the White House picnic for members of Congress. It will air Friday morning. 

Trump has not participated in an interview since May 13, when he did one with Fox News’ Jeanine Pirro. The last time he went on a non-Fox network was on May 11, when he sat down with NBC News anchor Lester Holt.

{mosads}The question-and-answer session comes at a time when Trump and his team are facing criticism over their level of press access and transparency.

In a break with his predecessors, Trump did not hold a news conference during his first foreign trip last month. His only solo news conference as president happened in February.

White House press secretary Sean Spicer has participated in fewer daily press briefings, which have increasingly been held off camera. White House spokespeople have been reluctant to describe Trump’s views on key issues or explain his explosive tweets. 

“Ultimately, the best messenger is the president himself,” Spicer said on May 30.

Spicer said this week that Trump is expected to reveal whether he taped his conversations with former FBI Director James Comey.

Trump made the suggestion on Twitter on May 12, but he and his spokespeople repeatedly refused to say whether any tapes exist.