Journalists from various media outlets have been denied credentials to attend former President Donald Trump’s election night event in West Palm Beach, Florida, reportedly as a response to their coverage of Trump’s campaign.
Trump Campaign Blocks And Revokes Press Access For Journalists
Reporters from organizations including Politico, Axios, Puck, Voice of America, and Mother Jones were among those denied entry. Some outlets, like Politico, initially had credentials approved but were later informed that access was revoked. According to a source, the decision may have been influenced by a Politico magazine article reporting on the dismissal of a Trump campaign field director with White nationalist ties.
Politico did not issue a comment on the matter. Similarly, Puck’s political journalist Tara Palmeri was set to cover the event for Amazon’s election night program hosted by Brian Williams.
However, her access was denied after she published an article discussing internal “anxiety” within the Trump campaign. Palmeri expressed her surprise on the “Somebody’s Gotta Win” podcast, stating she was told she upset Trump’s campaign manager, leading to her credential being revoked. She planned to cover the event from a studio in Los Angeles instead.
Puck’s co-founder and editor-in-chief, Jon Kelly, labeled the campaign’s decision as “unfortunate” but affirmed that it would not hinder their thorough reporting. A source linked to the campaign claimed that the denial of credentials was due to perceived inaccuracies in coverage, not merely critical content, adding that other journalists from the same organizations could still attend.
What Did Trump Campaign Representatives Say?
Trump campaign representatives did not respond to an inquiry by a leading publication but campaign co-chair Chris LaCivita had previously stated on X (formerly Twitter) that Palmeri was denied access for her “proclivity” to write what he described as untrue reports. He suggested a list of restricted reporters was maintained.
Axios reporter Sophia Cai was similarly denied credentials shortly after reporting on campaign “anxiety,” prompting Axios editor-in-chief Aja Whitaker-Moore to defend Cai, describing her as an “excellent reporter” whose election coverage was essential.
Journalists from Voice of America and Mother Jones also shared on X and confirmed to a publication that they were barred from the event. The Trump campaign and his former administration have a history of revoking press credentials, often citing dissatisfaction with coverage. Notably, in 2018, CNN’s Jim Acosta had his press pass revoked, only for it to be restored following a successful lawsuit by CNN.
