A renowned television network journalist, who authored a bestselling book on former President Trump’s second administration, is shedding light on Trump’s complex interactions with the media. This relationship appears to oscillate between hostility and friendliness, though it remains somewhat enigmatic.

Jonathan Karl, the chief Washington correspondent for ABC News and author of “Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign That Changed America,” shared his experiences on “On Balance” this Thursday. He described his professional interactions with Trump as unpredictable and varied.

Karl recounted frequent phone conversations with Trump during the latter’s campaign for a second term. However, their communications took a turn when Trump publicly criticized Karl on social media for his handling of an interview with a Republican senator.

In a notable incident, when Trump considered withdrawing from ABC’s debate with Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris, Karl attempted to reach out by text to gauge Trump’s stance. He did not receive an immediate response.