Given that Donald Trump has described journalists as "scum," "sleaze" and "horrible people," it shouldn't surprise anyone that the president-elect refrained from inviting the press onto his plane last week on his first journey to the White House.
Indeed, Trump won while defying decorum in just about everything, including his decision to withhold his tax returns — something no other presidential candidate has done in 40 years. Once he takes office in January, however, he becomes subject to laws and policies designed to force all presidents to tell the public what they're doing.
He will have less legal recourse for secrecy than previous administrations, thanks to a new law that makes a presumption of openness for federal records binding on all presidents.
And he will face a small but dedicated group of advocates who are willing to go to court to enforce transparency in Washington.
After relentless legal action to pry loose records of Hillary Clinton's e-mail practices, Judicial Watch called last week for Trump to "commit to a transparency revolution."
Trump voters "are expecting transparency and accountability and a commitment to have the government finally let the public know what it's up to, without too much of a hassle," said Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch.
Fitton said Judicial Watch has gone to court 300 times to get records out of the Obama administration, and about 70 lawsuits are active. "I expect we'll be filing many more lawsuits during the Trump administration," he said.
Those who criticized President Obama for falling short of his promise to run the most transparent administration in history are bracing for a far more combative four years in Washington.
