President Trump believes the New York Times is a “failing joke,” so how has the newspaper handled his harassment? Its writers throw their own darts.

Ross Douthat compares the dangers of the former candidate to a rhinoceros; Paul Krugman pokes fun at “Donald the Menace,” his administration, and their intelligence; Aparna Nancherla labels the mogul as a drama queen.

Trump weaponizes his own words in response. The cold war is just beginning between the two powerhouses, but there are intermittent periods of peace. According to the Huffington Post, the president and The Grey Lady have an affair more complicated than people realize.

“[He] can’t stop returning Times reporters’ calls. Some of the interviews took place in the candidate’s 26th-floor office at Trump Tower, while Times reporters also met with Trump for a 45-minute interview in his Cleveland hotel suite the day before he addressed the Republican convention,” the article states.

Press coverage is a win-win scenario for both the billionaire and the Times. The commander in chief is received on a wider platform, and the news outlet gains viewership outside of its standard audience.

He and the Times strive for one end goal: attention. According to a CNN article, subscriptions mushroom every time Trump mentions the Times.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/835325771858251776

“Times executive editor Dean Baquet was asked…how Trump has affected readership. [He says], ‘Every time he tweets, it drives subscriptions wildly,’” the article reads.

The president’s recent tweet centers on the newspaper’s purported problems. Apparently, the Times is losing thousands of subscribers, so it needs to release a televised advertisement.

Baquet debunks the president’s claim, though. “I think what’s happened in the last couple months has been tremendous for news organizations. We’re covering a dramatic revolution in government and how the country is governed,” he relays to CNN correspondent Brian Stelter.  

Whether it’s a succès de scandale or not, Trump and the Times prove that any press coverage is positive. No matter how much they hate each other, their chemistry is just too strong to deny.

People can’t wait for the next article, but they’re also anticipating the cliffhanger, an infamous Trump tweet.