Trump Restricts White House Press Access Following Legal Defeat
18 April 2025 路 Uncategorized 路
Source: 路 https://finance.technews.tw/2025/04/16/trump-team-adjusts-the-list-of-accompanying-press-corps/
On the 15th, the US White House announced that news agencies including Reuters and Bloomberg will no longer have permanent positions in its small press pool. This decision aims to strengthen control over who can ask questions and report on presidential statements live.
According to foreign media reports, this move follows a legal defeat against AP last week. The lawsuit was filed after the White House previously excluded AP from the press corps, raising concerns about freedom of the press. The small pool typically consists of approximately ten news organizations that accompany the president during his travels and report on statements or questions answered in Oval Office briefings or during domestic and international trips.
The new policy will replace these agencies with thirty newspapers and print media organizations. News agencies play a crucial role by providing detailed coverage of presidential activities, often serving as an essential resource for local news outlets without a presence in Washington D.C.
A Reuters spokesperson emphasized that their reporting reaches thousands of subscribing news organizations globally daily, impacting billions of people, highlighting the importance of independent, fair, and accurate journalism for democracy. They asserted that restricting access to the president threatens this principle, regardless of whether it affects American citizens or international media outlets. AP expressed disappointment over the administration鈥檚 decision, stating that limiting press pool membership severely harms Americans' right to know.
Bloomberg did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Previously, Reuters, Bloomberg, and AP were permanent members of the White House small pools; however, in February this year, the White House banned AP due to its refusal to comply with an order renaming US-Mexico waters as "US Gulf." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration has the right to determine who receives special privileges and limited access, such as Air Force One or Oval Office briefings.
According to White House officials, Karoline Leavitt will now daily select members of the small pool, aiming for accurate dissemination of presidential messages while ensuring media with relevant expertise attend events.
Last week, a federal judge in Washington ruled that the government must allow AP reporters to participate in activities like White House and Air Force One briefings, stating that retaliating against an agency based on editorial choices violates constitutional protections for free speech.
According to foreign media reports, this move follows a legal defeat against AP last week. The lawsuit was filed after the White House previously excluded AP from the press corps, raising concerns about freedom of the press. The small pool typically consists of approximately ten news organizations that accompany the president during his travels and report on statements or questions answered in Oval Office briefings or during domestic and international trips.
The new policy will replace these agencies with thirty newspapers and print media organizations. News agencies play a crucial role by providing detailed coverage of presidential activities, often serving as an essential resource for local news outlets without a presence in Washington D.C.
A Reuters spokesperson emphasized that their reporting reaches thousands of subscribing news organizations globally daily, impacting billions of people, highlighting the importance of independent, fair, and accurate journalism for democracy. They asserted that restricting access to the president threatens this principle, regardless of whether it affects American citizens or international media outlets. AP expressed disappointment over the administration鈥檚 decision, stating that limiting press pool membership severely harms Americans' right to know.
Bloomberg did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Previously, Reuters, Bloomberg, and AP were permanent members of the White House small pools; however, in February this year, the White House banned AP due to its refusal to comply with an order renaming US-Mexico waters as "US Gulf." White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration has the right to determine who receives special privileges and limited access, such as Air Force One or Oval Office briefings.
According to White House officials, Karoline Leavitt will now daily select members of the small pool, aiming for accurate dissemination of presidential messages while ensuring media with relevant expertise attend events.
Last week, a federal judge in Washington ruled that the government must allow AP reporters to participate in activities like White House and Air Force One briefings, stating that retaliating against an agency based on editorial choices violates constitutional protections for free speech.