Peggy Noonan finally meets Donald Trump after eight years of avoidance

In a recent meeting at the Wall Street Journal, Peggy Noonan, a veteran columnist and former speechwriter for Ronald Reagan, encountered President-elect Donald Trump for the first time after deliberately avoiding him for eight years. This avoidance stemmed from her belief that Trump's 'charming' personality would cloud her judgment as an observer of his political actions. During his candidacy in 2015 and 2016, Trump's office reached out to Noonan for a meeting, but she declined each invitation, preferring to maintain a distance that allowed her a clearer perspective. Noonan reflected on her role as a critical voice regarding Trump, acknowledging the many public exchanges and the attacks she endured on social media and at rallies during his presidency. The editorial board meeting took place three weeks ago, marking a significant moment for Noonan as she braced for what she felt might be a dramatic encounter. As the meeting commenced, the atmosphere was tense; she had not only avoided meeting him in person but had also been critical of his presidency through her writing. However, when Trump entered the room, he was larger than life, both physically and in presence. His initial greeting to Noonan was unexpectedly complimentary, as he called her 'wonderful' and 'the most remarkable woman,' an interaction that caught her slightly off guard. This moment marked a potential shift in Noonan's perception of Trump, leading her to note that had she met him back in 2015, she might not have seen him in the same light as a critical journalist. In her conversations post-meeting, Noonan expressed a sense of warmth about the confrontations she had with Trump over the years and reflected on how their public exchanges had been a part of her career. She maintained that this encounter, although not without its complications, was humbling in real-time, as she witnessed a side of Trump she had held at arm's length for years. Despite her history of critique, she found themselves sharing a dialogue that could have changed the nature of her writing had it occurred during his initial candidacy. The narrative of their complex relationship highlights the broader dynamics of political discourse in the United States. In the midst of polarized views on Trump’s presidency, Noonan's meeting underscores the impacts of firsthand encounters that can alter perceptions over time. It raises important questions about how public figures are viewed both from a distance and in close quarters, and suggests potential for reconciliation or understanding amidst longstanding critiques, emphasizing the human element within political analysis.