Russian State Media Briefly Granted Oval Office Access as U.S. Press Barred

A Russian state media reporter was briefly present in the Oval Office on Friday during President Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, while major American news outlets such as Reuters and the Associated Press were denied access.

The White House claimed the TASS reporter’s presence was unplanned, stating, “TASS was not on the approved list of media for today’s pool.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later had the reporter escorted out, but officials have not explained how he gained access in the first place.

This incident follows the Trump administration’s crackdown on mainstream media access, shifting control over press pool decisions away from the White House Correspondents Association to the administration itself.

It also comes as Trump strengthens ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin while criticizing Zelensky, raising concerns about U.S. foreign policy alignment. Critics argue that the exclusion of American press alongside preferential treatment for Russian state media sends a troubling message about the administration’s stance on press freedom and global alliances.

Sources:

• Politico – MBFC Rating