Overview

• For the first time in history, no wire service reporters from AP, Bloomberg, or Reuters were included on Air Force One for President Trump’s Middle East trip under a new rotational press policy.
• The White House Correspondents’ Association described the exclusion as an 'unprecedented' decision that undermines decades of press pool traditions and timely public access to presidential news.
• The administration implemented a rotational model for press access following legal disputes over the exclusion of AP reporters, which began after the outlet refused to adopt the term 'Gulf of America.'
• Critics argue the policy jeopardizes transparency and limits the dissemination of critical information, as wire services play a key role in rapidly distributing news globally.
• The WHCA has renewed its demand for the restoration of permanent wire service slots, emphasizing the importance of their coverage for millions of Americans and news outlets worldwide.