Administration

White House to stop publishing summaries of Trump’s calls with world leaders

The White House is putting an end to the practice of publishing summaries, known as “readouts,” of President Trump’s calls with foreign leaders, in a departure from past Democratic and Republican administrations.

The readouts are still being developed, The Hill has learned. 

CNN first reported the news that that the administration will stop publishing the summaries. Two sources familiar with the situation did not tell the news outlet whether the pause was permanent. 

{mosads}The White House declined to comment to CNN.

The descriptions of the phone calls generally offer few details but serve as the only official White House account of Trump’s phone conversations with other world leaders.

CNN noted that the White House has not provided a description of a phone call between Trump and a world leader since mid-June, when he called the Hungarian prime minister to congratulate him on winning reelection.

Later calls between Trump and foreign leaders have been reported by the foreign press, and confirmed by the White House afterward.

It’s been previously reported that Trump has given his cell number to foreign leaders: The Washington Post reported earlier this month that the White House was caught off guard when Canadian officials provided a readout of a call between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that U.S. officials did not know had taken place.