The White House has blocked a Wall Street Journal reporter from joining President Donald Trump’s press pool for an upcoming trip to Scotland, citing what it calls “fake and defamatory conduct” following a recent article about a controversial letter allegedly signed by Mr. Trump.
The Journal story, published last Thursday, detailed a “bawdy” birthday message reportedly sent to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein in the early 2000s. The article claims the letter, which included a nude sketch and Mr. Trump’s signature, was among several compiled for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003.
President Trump has denied the report, calling the letter a “FAKE.”
The Wall Street Journal had been scheduled to travel with the president and a group of reporters aboard Air Force One as part of the rotating press pool for the July 25–29 visit, which includes stops in Aberdeen and Turnberry, where Trump owns golf resorts.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the Journal’s removal from the pool on Monday, just days after Mr. Trump filed a libel lawsuit against the outlet seeking at least \$20 billion in damages.
“Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the president’s trip to Scotland. Due to the Wall Street Journal’s fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board,” Leavitt said in a statement.
“Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible.”
The Wall Street Journal has not publicly commented on the removal but has stood by its reporting.
The decision drew criticism from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which called for the administration to reverse course.
“This attempt by the White House to punish a media outlet whose coverage it does not like is deeply troubling, and it defies the First Amendment,” said WHCA President Weijia Jiang.
“Government retaliation against news outlets based on the content of their reporting should concern all who value free speech and an independent media.”
Press pool access allows a select group of journalists to cover the president’s travels, events, and public remarks. In recent years, the Trump administration has taken a more hands-on approach to deciding which outlets can participate, deviating from precedent that left such decisions to the press corps.
Earlier this year, the Associated Press lost access to the Oval Office and Air Force One after refusing to adopt the president’s proposed renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”
Though the AP won an early court battle, an appeals court later sided with the White House, allowing the administration to restrict access.
As the appeals court confirmed, the Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces,” Leavitt said.
President Trump’s trip to Scotland marks a return to his ancestral roots and will be closely followed by domestic and international media, minus the Wall Street Journal.
