'Can You Come To The White House?' A Reporter's Tale Of A Surprise Trip To Iraq
NPR White House correspondent Tamara Keith was one of 13 reporters to go with President Trump to Iraq, an assignment that meant keeping a big secret — even from family.
The call came Sunday afternoon.
"Can you come to the White House?"
I was still wearing running pants and had my hair up in a plastic scrunchy, but figured there wasn't time to change.
I was called to the office of White House press secretary Sarah Sanders, who had me leave my purse and cellphone outside before sitting down. This was sensitive.
The president would be going to Iraq, leaving late Christmas night. I would be one of 13 pool journalists along for the surprise trip. For security reasons, it had to stay quiet. I could tell only my husband and one editor. And only in person, not over the phone, text or email. The secrecy around it was similar to how previous White House staffs had
