Donald Trump promised that as president, he would broaden access for journalists outside the mainstream to White House press conferences and him making good on that promise is driving the media elite nuts.
It was during a recent press event with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that President Trump called on a local ABC News affiliate, WJLA, and the Daily Caller. As is noted in a Washington Times piece, both entities didn’t ask any questions about the controversy of Trump national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn secretly speaking with Russia before the election. That gave the MSM all the fodder it needed.
“By handpicking reporters, Trump manages to get through a news conference without being asked about Flynn,” NY Times reporter Peter Baker whined on Twitter.
Baker had to be reminded by Angela Greiling Keane from Bloomberg that, “To be fair, the previous WH also handpicked reporters.” She did add, “But it was very different than this.” How, exactly, she didn’t say.
Others argued similarly that all presidents have enjoyed calling on favored reporters to avoid the uncomfortableness of a good grilling, but NBC News’s Mark Murray objected, saying, “But not during bilateral pressers with world leaders, where questions typically go to wire reporters (AP, Reuters).”
More from Kelly Riddel at The Washington Times:
Hadas Gold at Politico, quoted NBC Journalist Brian Williams, who noted on-air “what wasn’t being asked” at the press conference, adding the New York Times and Washington Post weren’t called upon.
Deputy Washington Editor of the New York Times, Jonathan Weisman, wasn’t pleased.
“Biggest papers in the U.S. blare headlines on embattled National Security Adviser Flynn. Trump calls on WJLA & Daily Caller, no Flynn questions,” he tweeted.
Too bad.
Riddel rightly notes, “The mainstream media – especially CNN, The New York Times, and The Washington Post – have largely been combative of Mr. Trump’s presidency. Why would they think they would then be given preferential treatment at his press conferences? Because they’re the establishment? There seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding here.”
It’s good to see the leftist media lose their grip on the narrative. It’s been a long time coming.