A White House event held Tuesday was just about the exact opposite. Billed as a “CEO town hall on the American business climate,” it was really more of a chance for Trump to run through his perceived accomplishments in office and take a few questions from friendly business leaders in a controlled setting.

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As for friendly reporters? Other than pool reporters and cameras in the back of the room, there were none to be seen. Instead, Trump took questions (well, softballs) from Reed Cordish, assistant to the president for intergovernmental and technology initiatives.

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This was Cordish's first question for the president:

“Vice President Pence listed some of the amazing accomplishments that have taken place. Since your election, and your 75 days in office, the stock market has had almost unprecedented sustained growth. Unprecedented confidence from our manufacturing sector and other business sectors leading to massive private-sector investment in job growth. You have gotten rid of regulations that were unnecessary and job stifling. You have strengthened our borders and strengthened our military. You've nominated a great Supreme — superb Supreme Court justice, amongst many other things. How does all that feel?”

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One gets the impression that's the kind of question Trump would love to be asked at a news conference. But no fair journalist would ever ask that, so it's left to Cordish.

Then, without taking another question, Trump brought out an enormous chart, apparently as a tool to criticize complicated government regulations.

The chart purportedly showed all of the different federal agencies, statutes and executive orders that would have to be taken into account before building a highway somewhere in the United States.

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The only problem? It didn't show an actual project — just a theoretical one.

“This is not a specific project,” the aide holding the chart added hastily as Trump questioned him about it. So how do we know what all of those lines, circles and words really mean?

This was Trump the performer at his peak. When he's in control of the narrative, he comes across as more knowledgeable and accessible to a lot more Americans, especially those outside the Washington political bubble.