“She's always going to have a special place with the president,” said Nunberg. “She's one of the most influential political reporters, and it's the New York Times. It may be 'the failing New York Times,' but it's also the crown jewel, and he loves it.”

There may be no reporter Trump respects, and fears, more than Haberman. He may bash and beat up on the Times, and her, but he inevitably returns to her to share his thinking and participate in interviews. He does so because, in addition to having known her for so long, he knows that she matters, that she will not treat him with kid gloves but not be unfair either, that she commands the respect of the political communities in both Washington and New York.