THE DAILY BS: HOW MUCH CAN YOU HANDLE?
SPARE ME THE BS (I’ve got things to do).
- Jacqui Heinrich condemned the removal of Independent reporter Andrew Feinberg from an upcoming presidential pool assignment.
- The change followed Feinberg’s contentious Oval Office exchange with President Trump.
- The White House defended its authority over access, while Heinrich called the decision retaliation.
LAY IT ON ME (I’ve got time).
The White House’s running argument with the press has acquired another participant from Fox News.
Jacqui Heinrich, the network’s senior White House correspondent and president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, accused the administration of retaliation after Andrew Feinberg lost a scheduled presidential travel assignment.
“That is retaliation,” Heinrich said.
Feinberg, who reports for The Independent, was supposed to serve as the print pooler for Trump’s Thursday trip to Iowa. He learned Wednesday that he would no longer fill that role.
The reassignment followed Tuesday’s Oval Office confrontation over the administration’s fraud-reward program and plans involving Washington’s East Potomac Park golf course.
What began with questions about fraud and fairways ended with an argument about who gets on the plane. Washington does know how to stretch an itinerary.
Trump criticized Feinberg directly, and the administration’s rapid-response account followed with an insulting post. Vice President JD Vance also attacked the reporter’s conduct.
Heinrich argued that journalists must be able to question the president without fearing a loss of access. She was speaking for the correspondents’ association, rather than announcing a Fox News editorial position.
The White House responded that journalists have no constitutional entitlement to access sensitive presidential facilities and said outlets it accuses of fabrication can report from elsewhere.
Feinberg defended his questioning and said he intended to continue working.
“I was doing my job, and I’ll be right back at it tomorrow,” he wrote.
DBS WIRE SOURCES (I’ve got all day).
- TheWrap — Heinrich’s statement and Feinberg’s response
- The Daily Beast — Travel assignment and White House response
- The Washington Post — Pool arrangements and the Oval Office dispute
