Nyt: It’s paradoxical that the US press is barred from the White House, whilst the Chinese press is allowed in
According to the newspaper, journalists from CNN, MSNBC and Politico were initially barred from entering the White House despite a court order, but were later allowed in
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to the White House offered a paradoxical insight into Donald Trump’s policy towards the media: whilst numerous Chinese journalists were allowed onto the presidential compound to cover the meeting, some American reporters were initially barred by the administration. This contradiction was highlighted by the New York Times in its coverage of yesterday, Thursday 24 September, a day also marked by the warm reception the US president gave to the Chinese leader.
Access denied to CNN, MSNow and Politico, then the go-ahead
According to the newspaper, journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were initially barred from entering the White House despite a court order, but were later granted access. However, the dispute over the presence of CNN cameras in the presidential press pool remained unresolved, whilst some television broadcasters continued to boycott the White House press pool system.
At the same time, Chinese journalists were regularly on hand to cover Xi’s visit. A report from the White House press pool stated that Trump joked that the Chinese had ‘the friendliest press corps’.
A grand welcome for our friend Xi
Trump welcomed Xi with all the honours befitting a state visit, publicly praising the personal relationship he had built with the Chinese president. “Since my first election in 2016, President Xi and I have built a friendship – a truly great friendship – based on mutual respect and the vital interests of our peoples,” Trump said at the White House.
The US President then accompanied Xi on a tour of the new ballroom currently under construction at the White House and also showed him a photograph of an autopen that had been installed to mock his predecessor, Joe Biden.
