A few weeks ago, President Trump and his administration requested a personal screening at the White House of Steven Spielberg’s new film “The Post,” in which The Washington Post has to choose whether or not they should publish the Pentagon Papers in 1971. On one hand, some might view this choice of film as Trump using his time wisely by learning about a historically significant national moment that changed the course of mass media and journalism.

On the other hand, some might think of this choice to be pretty ironic considering that a controversial person of power like Trump requested to screen a film with this particular content. Personally, I would have to agree with the irony here and say that it is rather odd that Trump would make a decision like this knowing all the speculation that already surrounds the Trump administration.

Whether it be through racist comments, sexual-assault allegations or general offensive statements, Trump seemingly has no problem making headlines for his frequent outspoken mannerisms. Speaking of speculation and controversy that Trump so often creates, it is also worth bringing up his feud with Meryl Streep, who stars as the leading role of Katharine Graham. During a speech at the Golden Globes, Streep mentioned how hurt she felt when she saw Trump imitate a disabled reporter and that is not how someone who sits “in the most respected seat in our country” should be treating others.

Graham herself was a Jewish woman who would become a prominent figure in American Journalism. Though her father was Eugene Meyer, publisher of the Washington Post, she didn’t inherit the Post from him. When Meyer died he passed it down to her husband, Phil Graham; she later received it after her husband committed suicide.

Graham grew up believing that women had no place in business, and she believed it for most of her life. Due to growing up in such an environment, she had a lot of self confidence issues which made it difficult for her to run The Post. Her colleagues constantly walked all over her and didn’t respect her. Until the Pentagon papers came along.

She made the decision to publish the Pentagon Papers, despite being advised against it numerous times, and in doing so she saved American democracy and paved the way for journalism as we know it today.

Following Streep’s comments, Trump, to no one’s surprise, took to Twitter to respond to Streep and stated that he was “attacked” by her while also unfairly adding that she was “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood.” Because Streep did an excellent job at portraying a courageous, historical female figure, it is fun just thinking about Trump sitting through this movie and most likely not being able to bare seeing her execute the role so perfectly.

Though it offers a sense of relief to see Trump pick a film that can actually teach him a thing or two about freedom of the press, it is also peculiar to see that the movie he chose to screen revolves around exposing presidential secrets. Hopefully, the president will learn the importance of thinking twice before making insensitive public statements from now on.