Donald Trump continues to crack down on news outlets, this time excluding a HuffPost reporter from a pre-scheduled White House visit.
On Tuesday night, the White House informed HuffPost’s S.V. Date that there was “no room” for him in the press pool, despite his scheduled participation. Instead, Axios filled the print pool spot, and the administration reduced wire service representation from three to one, replacing traditional outlets with right-wing publications Newsmax and The Blaze.
“HuffPost condemns this egregious violation of the First Amendment,” said HuffPost editor-in-chief Whitney Snyder. “Americans deserve fair and honest reporting on their president.”
The move follows Trump’s decision to bar The Associated Press after the outlet refused to comply with renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Reuters was also removed from Wednesday’s press pool.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the decision, stating, “It’s beyond time that the White House press operation reflects the media habits of the American people in 2025, not 1925.”
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which traditionally determines press rotation, condemned the administration’s interference.
“This move tears at the independence of a free press,” said WHCA President Eugene Daniels. “In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their own press corps.”
Trump, who has expanded executive power during his second term, is set to hold a Cabinet meeting and sign executive orders Wednesday.
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