Washington DC: The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has criticized President Donald Trump over his reported plans to restrict access for certain news organizations, calling the move a threat to press freedom in the United States.
In a statement, WHCA President Jacqui Heinrich said Trump had openly described his planned action as a “ban on the free press” during remarks in the Oval Office.
Heinrich stressed that the U.S. Constitution protects press freedom from government interference, regardless of whether the president agrees with a news organization’s reporting, editorial coverage or the questions raised by its journalists.
“The Constitution protects the freedom of the press from government interference,” Heinrich said, emphasizing that these protections do not depend on a president’s approval of a particular news outlet.
She further argued that the issue extends beyond the rights of journalists, highlighting the importance of ensuring that Americans have access to independent and comprehensive coverage of the president’s decisions, policies and official activities.
“This is about more than the rights of journalists. It is about the right of the American people to receive a full and independent account of the activities, policies and decisions of whoever occupies the nation’s highest office,” she said.
The WHCA also expressed solidarity with journalists at CNN, MS NOW and Politico, whom it said were being singled out for carrying out their professional responsibilities.
“The WHCA stands in defense of our colleagues at CNN, MSNOW, and Politico who are being singled out for doing their jobs,” Heinrich said.
The statement comes amid growing tensions between the Trump administration and news organizations over media access, coverage and the role of the press in holding the government accountable.
