Singer-songwriter Pat Boone posted a video to social media on Friday, September 18, 2026, advising President Donald Trump to adopt a more reserved public demeanor. Boone, who described himself as a friend of the president, suggested that Trump stop holding press conferences and refrain from name-calling and discussing his personal accomplishments for a period of time.
The 92-year-old performer noted in his message on Instagram and Facebook that he had previously advised Trump to act more presidential during his first campaign for the office. Boone referenced a 2016 phone call in which he cautioned against rhetoric that sounded like a "schoolboy on the playground." Boone stated in the new video that he believes the president now appears "very tired" and is "wearing out" under pressure.
In the video, Boone recommended that Trump follow the example of Ronald Reagan by using humor and maintaining a respectful tone to gain better media reporting and public support. The singer specifically urged the president to be polite to women and to stop name-calling. According to the report, Trump has previously used insults toward female reporters, including referring to one as "quiet, piggy."
The message from Boone coincided with a series of actions taken by the White House against specific news organizations. On Friday, September 18, the president announced that CNN, MS NOW, and Politico would be barred from the White House, characterizing their reporting as "fake news." On Saturday morning, September 19, journalists from those three outlets were blocked from entering the premises.
The shift in rhetoric suggested by Boone would, if adopted, change how the president interacts with the public and the media. A person following these developments would notice a difference in the tone of presidential briefings or a potential decrease in the frequency of public statements. The scale of this impact involves the White House press corps and citizens who consume news from the restricted outlets.
The exclusion of specific media outlets sets a precedent for how the administration manages its relationship with the press and the Kennedy Center, which is currently involved in a dispute with the president over its future. What happens next depends on the White House's response to the barred organizations and whether the president chooses to adopt changes in his public conduct. No specific court dates or deadlines for restoring press credentials were reported.