WASHINGTON — The White House is facing mounting criticism from press organizations after excluding The Wall Street Journal from the media group set to accompany President Donald Trump on his upcoming trip to Scotland.
White House Correspondents’ Association President Weijia Jiang called the move “deeply troubling,” saying in a statement, “This attempt by the White House to punish a media outlet whose coverage it does not like defies the First Amendment.”
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that The Wall Street Journal had been removed from the list of 13 news organizations assigned to travel with the president overseas. The decision came days after The Journal reported that, in 2003, Trump sent Jeffrey Epstein a birthday card featuring a drawing of a nude woman, referring to Epstein as a “pal” and writing, “may every day be another wonderful secret.”
“Due to the Wall Street Journal’s fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board,” Leavitt said, without directly referencing the Epstein article.
Soon after the story’s publication, Trump filed a $10 billion lawsuit targeting The Wall Street Journal’s parent company, Dow Jones, its publisher, two journalists, and two executives.
Dow Jones declined to comment on the outlet’s removal from the travel pool. However, in response to the lawsuit, a spokesperson defended the article, saying, “We have full confidence in the rigor and accuracy of our reporting, and will vigorously defend against any lawsuit.”
Jiang urged the White House to reverse the decision and offered to collaborate with the administration on resolving the matter. “Retaliation against journalists for their reporting is a threat to free speech and an independent press,” she said.
A spokesperson for The New York Times also condemned the exclusion, describing it as “an attack on core constitutional principles underpinning free speech and a free press.” The spokesperson added, “This is simple retribution by a president against a news organization for doing reporting that he doesn’t like.”
Traditionally, the White House press pool has served to ensure fair access when space is limited, such as on Air Force One or in the Oval Office. Outlets take turns participating, with one journalist providing shared content for broader distribution.
The Wall Street Journal had been part of the pool as recently as the previous week, prior to publishing the Epstein piece. It remains unclear whether the outlet will be excluded from future press pool events beyond the Scotland trip.
Under prior administrations, the White House Correspondents’ Association managed press pool assignments. That changed in February when Leavitt announced that the White House would take over the selection process — a break from long-standing precedent.
The administration also reportedly attempted to exclude The Associated Press from coverage, citing disputes over terminology. Trump criticized The AP for continuing to refer to the “Gulf of Mexico” instead of the preferred term “Gulf of America.”
In June, an appeals court ruled that Trump could lawfully restrict The AP‘s access to certain events, a decision Leavitt cited in her Monday remarks. “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,” she said.
The Epstein story has triggered widespread backlash and sparked disapproval even among Trump’s supporters. In recent weeks, several close allies have urged the administration to release additional records related to Epstein, who died in jail while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Davidoff Studios Photography / Getty Images file
Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Tuesday that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche has been in contact with Ghislaine Maxwell’s attorney to explore whether Maxwell would be willing to cooperate with Justice Department prosecutors. Maxwell is currently serving a 20-year sentence for her role in grooming and recruiting underage girls for Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual abuse.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s letter to Epstein, which included a drawing of a nude woman and warm birthday wishes, dates back to 2003—two years before Epstein was first investigated in 2005. In a 2002 interview with New York Magazine, Trump had described Epstein as a “terrific guy.” However, after Epstein’s arrest in 2019, Trump publicly distanced himself, claiming they had a falling out “a long time ago.”
