The White House Correspondents’ Association claims this decision damages the independence of a free press in the United States.
The White House has announced it will determine which journalists and media outlets can participate in press pools covering the Donald Trump administration, a move critics argue is a threat to press freedom.
For many years, the pool system, which selectively allows certain television, radio, wire, print, and photojournalists, such as those from CNN, Reuters, ABC News, Fox News, and The New York Times, to cover smaller events, has been managed.
Trump administration spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that the aforementioned groups will retain their access. She also said the administration will give access to other outlets and will take control of the press pool coordination away from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA).
“For decades, a group of DC-based journalists, the White House Correspondents’ Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the president of the United States in these most intimate spaces. Not any more,” Leavitt stated at a news briefing.
“Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team,” Leavitt added, noting that it would include streaming services in the rotation.
WHCA President Eugene Daniels stated that the Trump administration did not notify the body before making this decision, which he said “tears at the independence of a free press in the United States.”
“It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps,” Daniels said in his statement.
“However, the WHCA will never stop advocating for comprehensive access, full transparency and the right of the American public to read, listen to and watch reports from the White House, delivered without fear or favour,” he added.
When questioned about his decision at a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office later on Tuesday, Trump stated, “We’re going to be now calling the shots.”
During this meeting, Trump also attacked The Associated Press (AP) due to an ongoing dispute over its policy of not using the term “Gulf of America” – the new name the president has assigned to the Gulf of Mexico.
In mid-February, the Trump administration banned AP reporters from attending White House events for several consecutive days and accused the news agency of spreading “lies” due to its refusal to use “Gulf of America” exclusively.
“AP has been terrible. I think they’re radical left. I think they’re third-rate reporters,” Trump declared on Tuesday.
“I know the person, that specific young lady that works on the account is terrible. She’s a radical left lunatic, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
On Monday, US District Judge Trevor N McFadden backed away from immediately restoring The AP’s access to presidential events, including the Oval Office and Air Force One – where Trump routinely holds question-and-answer sessions.
McFadden stated that the issue required further examination before a ruling could be made.
He scheduled an additional hearing for March 30. The ban remains in force for now.
For many years, the pool system, which selectively allows certain television, radio, wire, print, and photojournalists, such as those from CNN, Reuters, ABC News, Fox News, and The New York Times, to cover smaller events, has been managed.
Trump administration spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that the aforementioned groups will retain their access. She also said the administration will give access to other outlets and will take control of the press pool coordination away from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA).
“For decades, a group of DC-based journalists, the White House Correspondents’ Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the president of the United States in these most intimate spaces. Not any more,” Leavitt stated at a news briefing.
“Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team,” Leavitt added, noting that it would include streaming services in the rotation.
WHCA President Eugene Daniels stated that the Trump administration did not notify the body before making this decision, which he said “tears at the independence of a free press in the United States.”
“It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps,” Daniels said in his statement.
“However, the WHCA will never stop advocating for comprehensive access, full transparency and the right of the American public to read, listen to and watch reports from the White House, delivered without fear or favour,” he added.
When questioned about his decision at a meeting with reporters in the Oval Office later on Tuesday, Trump stated, “We’re going to be now calling the shots.”
During this meeting, Trump also attacked The Associated Press (AP) due to an ongoing dispute over its policy of not using the term “Gulf of America” – the new name the president has assigned to the Gulf of Mexico.
In mid-February, the Trump administration banned AP reporters from attending White House events for several consecutive days and accused the news agency of spreading “lies” due to its refusal to use “Gulf of America” exclusively.
“AP has been terrible. I think they’re radical left. I think they’re third-rate reporters,” Trump declared on Tuesday.
“I know the person, that specific young lady that works on the account is terrible. She’s a radical left lunatic, as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
On Monday, US District Judge Trevor N McFadden backed away from immediately restoring The AP’s access to presidential events, including the Oval Office and Air Force One – where Trump routinely holds question-and-answer sessions.
McFadden stated that the issue required further examination before a ruling could be made.
He scheduled an additional hearing for March 30. The ban remains in force for now.
