Trump campaign blocks some journalists from watch party over coverage

Washington  — At least six journalists were denied media accreditation to cover Donald Trump’s election watch party in Florida because of their coverage of the Republican presidential candidate. VOA confirmed that the six journalists work for the media sites Axios, Politico and Puck. In the case of Politico, three reporters and a photographer had initially been approved to attend the event, but on Tuesday they found out that their credentials had been denied. A person familiar with the matter told VOA the decision appeared to be linked to coverage in Politico Magazine about a white nationalist who had worked on the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania and was later fired. Politico declined to comment to VOA. Tara Palmeri, political correspondent at the news site Puck, was publicly denied access by Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita. In a post on the social media platform X last Thursday, LaCivita said Palmeri was “DENIED credentials to enter Mar-a-largo to cover election night due to her ‘proclivity’ to write bullshit. well well well.” Palmeri confirmed the incident in an email to VOA. She was scheduled to cover the Republican watch party as part of Amazon’s election night special hosted by Brian Williams. On a podcast, the journalist said she would now broadcast from Los Angeles. Meanwhile, Axios reporter Sophia Cai was denied a credential not long after she reported on “anxiety” within the Trump campaign ahead of Election Day, according to media reports. Cai referred VOA to Axios’ communications team. In a statement emailed to VOA, Axios editor in chief Aja Whitaker-Moore defended Cai, calling her “an excellent reporter who has covered the 2024 presidential election with essential, clinical coverage.” VOA contacted the Trump campaign for comment, but as of publication had not received a response. The broadcaster CNN reported that VOA journalists were among those denied accreditation for their coverage, which a VOA spokesperson denied. “VOA requested several credentials to cover Trump headquarters and some were granted, but not all were able to be accommodated,” a VOA spokesperson said. Separately, Trump last week sued CBS News over an interview of Democratic rival Kamala Harris and filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission against The Washington Post. Media analysts have expressed concern that Trump will restrict press freedom in the United States if he returns to the White House. Throughout his campaign, he has called for major news networks to lose their broadcasting licenses. Trump’s campaign and his former administration have previously revoked credentials from journalists, including CNN’s then White House correspondent Jim Acosta in 2018.