President Trump’s Signature Question: 'How’s It Playing?'

When confronted with significant challenges or weighty decisions, President Trump frequently turns to a distinctive question. Rather than asking straightforward inquiries about causes, options, or national interests, he opts for a more subjective query that prioritizes public perception.

His favored question is, simply, 'How’s it playing?'

For example, shortly after Israel initiated its first strikes against Iran, Trump asked a close ally about how these actions were being received publicly. He was told that many were urging him to become more involved.

Following an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, last summer, one of Trump’s top aides recalled that the president’s initial reaction was to inquire about the public’s response. Upon seeing a striking photograph of Trump with a blood-streaked face raising his fist, he immediately asked, 'Hey, Dan, how’s it playing?'

This question also arose after Trump’s 2023 indictment—the first ever against a former U.S. president—on charges related to falsifying business records connected to hush money payments. Prior to heading to court, he reportedly asked his legal team, 'How’s it playing?' A former aide also noted that while she couldn’t recall his exact words after reports surfaced, she was almost certain he had posed the same question.

In a recent account, an author described how Trump attempted to compare the impact of his indictment to that of his impeachment. When an aide tried to clarify the legal versus political implications, Trump clarified that by 'bigger,' he meant which event generated more drama and public attention—the measure he cared most about.

Assessing public opinion and reactions is a natural part of any president’s role, as their constituents’ views are central to governance. It is reasonable to rely on polls, seek advice from trusted confidants, or employ communication strategies such as speeches and social media to shape national sentiment. When political figures dismiss polls, it often indicates dissatisfaction with the results rather than disregard for public opinion.