WH Correspondents’ Association slams removal of reporter from Trump trip

Washington: A dispute over a journalist’s questioning of Donald Trump has sparked fresh concerns about media access after reports emerged that the correspondent was taken off a press assignment linked to the President’s upcoming visit to Iowa.

Andrew Feinberg of The Independent, who covers the White House, was due to join the print press pool for Trump’s Thursday trip to Sioux City. However, a report by Mediaite, citing Semafor’s Maxwell Tani, said Feinberg had been informed that he would no longer cover the trip, with no reason provided for the decision.

The development followed a tense exchange at the Oval Office on Tuesday. During an event focused on efforts to detect government fraud, Feinberg questioned Trump about the proposed initiative and changes concerning a golf course in Washington. Trump responded angrily, challenging the correspondent’s conduct.

Jacqui Heinrich, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, criticised the reported decision, arguing that journalists should not lose reporting opportunities because their questions displease the administration. She said restricting coverage in this way raises concerns about independent journalism.

The dispute also comes amid Trump’s proposal to offer informants one per cent of money recovered through fraud investigations. The suggested scheme could involve journalists, subject to legal restrictions and approval from their news organisations.

The proposal differs from an existing Justice Department programme that pays $10,000 to $30,000 for information leading to criminal fraud charges. Vice President JD Vance has said the administration wants to reward the recovery of public funds, not only successful prosecutions. A detailed framework for the proposed scheme has not yet been released.

With IANS inputs