Longtime Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy Noonan recently shared her experience of finally meeting Donald Trump, a figure she intentionally avoided for eight years. In a conversation with Bari Weiss, founder of The Free Press, Noonan admitted her apprehension stemmed from a belief that Trump's charisma might sway her objective analysis. She preferred to observe him from a "middle distance," believing this perspective offered the clearest view.

This self-imposed distance ended a few weeks prior to the conversation when Trump visited the Wall Street Journal's editorial board. Noonan, despite her initial reluctance, decided to attend the meeting. She felt it was important to be present, given her critical coverage of Trump and his responses to it. She recounted the moment to Weiss, revealing a surprising exchange.

As Trump entered, he bypassed others and directly addressed Noonan, praising her as "wonderful" and "remarkable." This unexpected compliment, considering their history, set the tone for an unusual encounter. Noonan described Trump's off-the-record behavior as a mix of humor, rudeness, and impropriety, solidifying her earlier belief that a closer proximity might have clouded her judgment.

Beyond this personal anecdote, Noonan has also commented on the broader political landscape. She expressed to Fox News' Bret Baier that America is undergoing significant change, with Trump's appeal rooted in a shared dissatisfaction with the 21st century's trajectory. Noonan suggests Trump's supporters saw in him a reflection of their own pushback against the established order.