By Riley Dauber
Editor-in-Chief
On Feb. 25, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced that the Trump administration would be choosing which journalists and publications could ask the president questions or cover issues related to his presidency.
This decision was inspired by a potential lawsuit between President Trump and the Associated Press. President Trump denied the Associated Press access to the Oval Office and Air Force One after the publication refused to change the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” in their coverage, according to The Guardian.
Publications are granted space in government locations to quickly cover issues and contact necessary sources, according to the Associated Press. However, CNN, The Washington Post, the Hill, and War Zone are set to be removed from their spaces in the Pentagon and replaced with Newsmax, the Washington Examiner, the Daily Caller, and the Free Press.
This favoritism toward certain publications shows that President Trump and White House officials prefer news outlets who write about them in a positive way; they do not wish to be held accountable despite the freedom of the press.
“[Our] mission to report on the Department of Defense, U.S. military, and Trump administration will continue regardless of office arrangements. We will not be deflected from our duty to hold all three fairly and fully to account,” CNN said in a statement.
While these location changes do not prevent the aforementioned news sources from covering issues surrounding the U.S. government, their removal from the Pentagon still shows clear favoritism for some news sources. The publications may also struggle to get in contact with sources or receive information in a timely manner now that they are no longer located on-site.
While CNN is more left-leaning, The Washington Post, the Hill, and War Zone are trustworthy and moderate publications. Newsmax, the Washington Examiner, and the Daily Caller are all right-leaning.
If President Trump continues to express his concerns about these trustworthy publications, his supporters will be swayed to believe these same concerns as well.
“At some point I am going to sue some of these dishonest authors and book publishers, or even media in general, to find out whether or not these ‘anonymous sources’ even exist. Maybe we will create some NICE NEW LAW!!!” President Trump said in a Truth Social post.
News outlets such as the Associated Press are dedicated to providing fair and moderate coverage of current events. They have the ability to fact-check, whereas the podcasters and right-wing media that Leavitt mentioned in her speech are looking to push a specific agenda that agrees with President Trump’s policies.
These restrictions continue President Trump’s initiative to fill his cabinet with people who will agree with him and his decisions. Yes-men do not hold him accountable, which is exactly what President Trump wants in order to maintain his power.
The purpose of a free press is to cover not only breaking news but also societal issues. If President Trump is limiting which publications can cover him, he is stripping journalists of their voices and their ability to call out injustices.
For example, The Elm reports on campus and Chestertown news, but we do not stray from discussing difficult issues regarding the College, including the recent budget deficit, staff cuts, and the scrubbing of diversity, equity, and inclusion statements on the College’s website by President Trump’s executive order.
Now, the people in power decide which publications get to write about them instead of the publications themselves having the access and ability to report on the Trump administration.
After Leavitt’s announcement, President of the White House Correspondents Association Eugene Daniels expressed disappointment at this decision and how it affects the freedom of the press.
“For generations, the working journalists elected to lead the WHCA board have consistently expanded the WHCA’s membership and its pool rotations to facilitate the inclusion of new and emerging outlets,” Daniels said. “It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders must not be able to choose their press corps.”
Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Photo Caption: President Trump’s attack on the press shows favoritism to publications that paint him in a positive light.