Trump Administration Tightens Press Access: AP Ban Reinforced Amid Controversies

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s ongoing conflict with The Associated Press took another turn. Initially, it seemed the administration might be easing its ban on the AP, allowing one reporter to attend an East Room ceremony for the first time since the ban was imposed in February. However, by the evening, the White House reinforced its stance, officially removing the permanent spot for wire services in the press pool, which includes the AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg.

White House officials formalized new pool criteria in a memo, which now excludes a guaranteed wire service position. Instead, the pool will comprise two print journalists, one network reporter, one additional network or streaming reporter, one radio reporter, one new media reporter, and four photo spots. This shift significantly reduces the access wire services previously enjoyed.

The administration’s actions follow a federal judge's ruling against punishing the AP for its terminology regarding the Gulf of Mexico, a contentious issue that sparked the initial ban. Despite the court ruling, the Trump administration is appealing and continues to implement restrictions on AP coverage.

In a separate development, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt faced questions regarding the status of Kilmar Abrego García, a man mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Leavitt reiterated unproven claims about García's alleged ties to human trafficking and gang affiliations, which have not been substantiated.

In media commentary, Erik Wemple of the Washington Post discussed the challenges of covering media criticism while adhering to internal directives at The Post, which limit discussions on the newspaper's operations.

Finally, President Trump’s viewing habits came into focus, revealing his late-night interest in C-SPAN programming, including reruns of his own congressional testimony, illustrating his engagement with media coverage of his administration.

In other news, the nonprofit digital outlet Houston Landing has announced its closure due to financial difficulties, less than two years after its launch, marking a significant loss in local journalism.