Washington:
The White House faced criticism on Wednesday for restricting access to President Donald Trump’s first cabinet meeting, with major news organizations like Reuters being denied entry under the new media coverage policy.
Reporters from Associated Press, Reuters, JS, and Der Tagesspiegel were among those denied access to the event, while select media outlets like ABC, Newsmax, Axios, and Bloomberg News were allowed to cover the meeting.
The White House’s decision to control media access in smaller spaces like the Oval Office has sparked controversy, with traditional media outlets expressing concern over the new policy.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, stating that while established media organizations would still have access to Trump on a daily basis, there would be changes in smaller settings.
The decision drew criticism from wire services like AP, Bloomberg, and Reuters, which have long been part of the White House press pool and emphasized the importance of a free and independent press in a democracy.
JS condemned the move as a violation of the First Amendment, while Der Tagesspiegel did not immediately respond to the development.
The White House Correspondents’ Association also expressed concerns over the new policy, which follows the administration’s decision to exclude AP from the pool due to differences in naming conventions.
Despite the backlash, Leavitt confirmed that major TV networks would retain their seats in the pool, with the addition of streaming services and other outlets in the rotation.
(This article is based on a syndicated feed and has been published without editing by NDTV staff.)
