“Hello, Bob.”
That’s how President Donald Trump started his phone call last Friday afternoon to Washington Post national reporter Robert Costa, a 2004 graduate of Pennsbury High School in Falls Township.
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The president, who often bashes the country’s most read media outlets, called Costa to give him the scoop that his administration was pulling the proposed Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, replacement plan that did not gain support from Democrats and even a portion of his party.
Trump spoke to the reporter and frequent NBC News contributor in what he wrote was an “even” and muted tone compared to how the bombastic president is often known for speaking.
“As you know, I’ve been saying for years that the best thing is to let Obamacare explode and then go make a deal with the Democrats and have one unified deal. And they will come to us; we won’t have to come to them,” Trump told Costa.
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The phone interview with the president, who Costa wrote called from a blocked number, was a major scoop for the 30-something journalist who packed an impressive resume. Although, he wasn’t alone Friday. New York Times political reporter Maggie Haberman also received a similar call from the president on the failed health care bill.
Costa, a native of Lower Makefield, was active in the Pennsbury community while attending the high school and featured in Michael Bamberger’s book “Wonderland: A Year in the Life of an American High School.” In the book, Costa was mentioned as a student who aimed to please and even had business cards with his name on them in high school. His dedication paid off: Costa was credited with helping bring Maroon 5 and John Mayer to Pennsbury’s world-famous prom.
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While he is now known for his political scoops in the Beltway, some of Costa’s first journalism experience was writing for the Tullytown-based Bucks County Courier Times.
Costa has talked to Trump several times previously and even interviewed him alongside veteran journalist Bob Woodward in March 2016.
Costa isn’t the only area millennial to be big on the Washington D.C. reporting scene. Pennsbury graduate Hallie Jackson, who grew up in Yardley, is a White House reporter for NBC News, Bristol Township native Tony Romm is a senior editor for Recode and Council Rock School District graduate Mike Sacks is a political correspondent for E.W. Scripps Company.
