The mainstream media has it out for this administration. And they’ll do anything to bring Trump down.
But now the White House threw a reporter out on the streets for peddling an awful lie.
White House Bars Wall Street Journal from Press Pool Over Epstein Story
On July 18, the White House excluded The Wall Street Journal from the press pool for President Donald Trump’s weekend trip to Scotland, citing what Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt called the outlet’s “fake and defamatory” reporting.
The decision targeted reporter Tarini Parti following a Wall Street Journal article alleging a risque birthday message from Trump to the late Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, which the president has denounced as “FAKE” and prompted him to file a libel lawsuit against the outlet.
Leavitt told Politico, “As the appeals court confirmed, the Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces.”
She added that the White House aims to include diverse voices, but the Journal’s exclusion reflects a pattern of media outlets facing consequences for stories the administration deems inaccurate.
White House Correspondents’ Association Decries First Amendment Violation
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) condemned the exclusion as a violation of First Amendment principles, arguing that it represents government retaliation against unfavorable reporting.
WHCA President Weijia Jiang, a CBS News correspondent, stated, “Government retaliation against news outlets based on the content of their reporting should concern all who value free speech and an independent media.”
The association urged the White House to reinstate the Journal’s access to the press pool and Air Force One for the Scotland trip, offering to negotiate a resolution.
Earlier in 2025, the White House revoked the WHCA’s authority to manage press pool access, with Leavitt criticizing a “cabal of D.C.-based journalists” for controlling which reporters could engage with the president in key settings.
The media’s persistent focus on controversial narratives, often lacking substantiation, fuels perceptions of bias, particularly when targeting Trump with stories like the Epstein letter, which critics argue are designed to undermine his leadership.
Context of Media Restrictions and Legal Battles
The Wall Street Journal’s exclusion follows other instances of the Trump administration limiting media access, such as banning Associated Press reporters and photographers from press pools earlier in 2025 over the outlet’s refusal to use the term “Gulf of America.”
That decision is currently under legal scrutiny, reflecting ongoing debates about the administration’s approach to media relations.
The White House maintains that no outlet is entitled to automatic access, with Leavitt noting, “Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible.”
However, critics argue that selectively barring outlets based on content risks chilling journalistic freedom.
The media’s tendency to amplify unverified or inflammatory stories about Trump, such as the Epstein-related report, has intensified these conflicts, raising questions about fairness in coverage and the balance between press access and accountability for perceived biases.
