The Note: The First Presidential Press Conference

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January 27, 2017

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The Note: The First Presidential Press Conference

The Big Story

It's impossible to overstate the series of explosions President Trump has set off across the world stage – without anything (a major terror attack, a provocation, even a Tweetstorm from a foreign leader) actually really happening. The Mexican president's decision to cancel his visit is only the most dramatic step in a world-spanning whirlwind that has reset policies and shaken alliances from China to Israel to Russia. Trump's first in-person meeting with a fellow world leader, with British Prime Minister Theresa May in Washington Friday, comes as even the special relationship is tested. Trump's comments on torture are blocking out other issues, and are complicating quiet partnerships on intelligence and military matters. It all part of the major gamble of the Trump era – that the norms of governance can withstand (and just may demand) being blown up in areas both foreign and domestic.

The Sleeper Story

"The media here is the opposition party." Those are the stark and stunning words of Steve Bannon, the president's chief White House strategist, to The New York Times, in his first interview from the inside. That this would represent the official White House strategy is startling, even if it is in keeping with Bannon's worldview. (It's hard to imagine that Trump, who consumes and thrives off of television and Twitter, has the same outlook.) The words are Bannon's, and Trump's actions surely speak louder. Yet this appears to be part of a concerted effort to create an alternative information universe. This first wild week that gave us "alternative facts" and presidential arguments where he's falsely described his crowd sizes and the popular vote. Bannon's advice for the media? "Keep its mouth shut and just listen for a while."

The Shiny Story

Imagine being the head of the National Park Service and getting a call from the president of the United States, less than 24 hours into the new presidency. A thank-you for the welcome on the National Mall? A warning about budget cuts? A vow to visit Yosemite? Actually, according to The Washington Post, the call was a demand to produce photographs from Inauguration Day that Trump hoped would bolster his assertion about how many people witnessed the event. Dial up the outrage, sure, but don't be at all surprised: This is how Trump does business. It's just that his business is now the federal government's business.

TLDR

U.S. relations with Mexico are at a standstill after Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto canceled a meeting with President Trump ahead of Trump's meeting with another foreign partner -- British Prime Minister Theresa May slated for today.

Photo of the Day

President Trump took his very first flight on Air Force One yesterday to see GOP legislative leaders in Philadelphia.

What's at Stake When President Trump Meets With UK Prime Minister Theresa May

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May will be the first foreign leader to meet U.S. President Donald Trump when the two leaders convene for talks in the White House on Friday. May's status as the first leader to meet the new president is testament to the enduring "special relationship" between the U.S. and the U.K. But despite historically good relations between presidents and prime ministers, there are some potentially significant differences that could arise during their meeting, note ABC's BRUNO ROEBER and LORA MOFTAH. http://abcn.ws/2k8oide

Today at the White House

President Donald Trump is sitting for his official portrait this morning in the Oval Office and meeting with Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. Early this afternoon, President Trump holds a meeting, lunch and press conference with Prime Minister Theresa May of the United Kingdom. Late this afternoon, President Trump will attend the swearing-in of Secretary of Defence James Mattis. He'll sign executive orders later tonight.

Trump and Putin to Speak by Phone on Saturday

President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a telephone conversation this weekend, according to both a senior administration official and the Kremlin. The call will take place on Saturday, both the U.S. official and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Friday, ABC's DAVID CAPLAN reports. http://abcn.ws/2jlFE1T

'This Week' on This Week

After President Donald Trump's first full week in office, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell comes to "This Week" Sunday. Plus, ABC News' Martha Raddatz goes one-on-one with former Defense Secretary and CIA Director Robert Gates. And the Powerhouse Roundtable debates the week in politics, with Republican pollster and ABC News contributor Kristen Soltis Anderson, Washington Post chief correspondent Dan Balz, NPR "All Things Considered" co-host Audie Cornish, and ABC News contributor LZ Granderson.