Nobody, not Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, or even Barack Obama, plays a president better than Donald Trump, according to the dean of the White House news photographers.
“Donald Trump is the most iconic,” said Doug Mills of the New York Times, the president’s favorite photographer.
In a CBS Morning News feature, Chief Washington Correspondent Major Garrett asked the longtime White House photographer what it is about Trump that makes for good pictures.
Mills didn’t hesitate. “Obviously, his hair, obviously, how big he is, and just his eyes,” said Mills, adding, “Just about everything about him.”
.@MajorCBS – “Have you ever photographed a president as image conscious as Donald Trump?”@dougmillsnyt – “Never. Barack Obama was the most photogenic. By far, by far, Donald Trump is the most iconic … Most amazing photo op” was with Pelosi and Schumerhttps://t.co/7v57u6zZPw
— Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) December 17, 2019
For pretty photos, he said, Obama wins. “Barack Obama was the most photogenic,” he said.
But Trump offers so much more, in part because he is extremely accessible to photographers and appreciates their work.
“His emotions are right out there,” said Mills. He recalled one meeting he observed during which Trump and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer were fighting over the budget, and everybody was waving their hands.
“It felt uncomfortable because I thought that at any moment, we should just leave this conversation, yet that’s part of Donald Trump,” said Mills.
Mills is also acclaimed for his photograph this year capturing Pelosi’s sarcastic applause during Trump’s State of the Union address.
Garrett noted that Trump has called Mills in to special meetings because he values his eye. Once, at an international economic meeting, Trump pointed Mills out to the other leaders and said, “He’s a genius; unfortunately, he works for the New York Times.”
