White House restricts WSJ access to Trump over Epstein story
The move comes after Trump on Friday sued the WSJ and its media magnate owner Rupert Murdoch for at least $10 billion over the allegation in the article, which Trump denies.
The Trump administration's handling of the Epstein case has threatened to split the Republican's far-right Make America Great Again (MAGA) base, with some of his supporters calling for a full release of the so-called 'Epstein Files.'
The punishment of The Wall Street Journal marks at least the second time the Trump administration has moved to exclude a major news outlet from the press pool over its reporting, having barred Associated Press journalists from multiple key events since February.
'As the appeals court confirmed, The Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces,' said Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
'Due to The Wall Street Journal's fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board (Air Force One).'
Trump departs this weekend for Scotland, where he owns two golf resorts and will meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice, under Trump-appointed Attorney General Pam Bondi, said there was no evidence suggesting disgraced financier Epstein had kept a 'client list' or was blackmailing powerful figures before his death in 2019.
In its story on Thursday, the WSJ reported that Trump had written a suggestive birthday letter to Epstein in 2003, illustrated with a naked woman and alluding to a shared 'secret.'
Epstein, a longtime friend of Trump and multiple other high-profile men, was found hanging dead in a New York prison cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges that he sexually exploited dozens of underage girls at his homes in New York and Florida.
The case sparked conspiracy theories, especially among Trump's far-right voters, about an alleged international cabal of wealthy pedophiles.
Epstein's death—declared a suicide—before he could face trial supercharged that narrative.
Since returning to power in January, Trump has moved to increase control over the press covering the White House.
In February, the Oval Office stripped the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) of its nearly century-old authority to oversee which outlets have access to certain restricted presidential events, with Trump saying that he was now 'calling the shots' on media access.
In a statement, the WHCA president urged the White House to 'restore' the Journal to the pool.
'This attempt by the White House to punish a media outlet whose coverage it does not like is deeply troubling, and it defies the First Amendment,' said WHCA President Weijia Jiang.
'Government retaliation against news outlets based on the content of their reporting should concern all who value free speech and an independent media.'
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Al Arabiya
an hour ago
- Al Arabiya
US says tariff deadline of August 1 is firm, no extensions
The US deadline of August 1 for imposing tariffs on its trading partners is firm and there will be no extensions, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Sunday. 'So no extensions, no more grace periods. August 1, the tariffs are set. They'll go into place. Customs will start collecting the money, and off we go,' Lutnick told 'Fox News Sunday.' For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. After the levies kick in, President Donald Trump – who was negotiating Sunday in Scotland with European Union officials – is still willing to keep talking, Lutnick said. Of the Europeans, Lutnick said, 'You know they're hoping they make a deal, and it's up to President Trump, who's the leader of this negotiating table. We set the table.' So far five countries have struck deals with the Trump administration ahead of the Friday deadline as it tries to overhaul the global system of largely free trade by slapping tariffs on countries that the United States deems as engaging in unfair practices. These five are Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia the Philippines, and Japan. The levies they accepted are often higher than the new base rate of 10 percent that the United States has applied to most countries since April. But they are far below the levels the Trump administration threatened to impose if no deal were reached.


Saudi Gazette
3 hours ago
- Saudi Gazette
Thailand and Cambodia to hold ceasefire talks in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR — Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to hold ceasefire talks in Malaysia on Monday in an effort to end a border conflict that has left 33 people dead and displaced thousands over the past four days. The breakthrough comes after U.S. President Donald Trump personally called the leaders of both countries on Saturday, urging them to begin immediate negotiations to halt the fighting. Thailand confirmed on Sunday that a delegation led by acting Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai would attend the talks in Kuala Lumpur, with Malaysia confirming that Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet would also be present. Trump, who is currently on a private visit to his golf resort in Scotland, wrote on Truth Social that both nations 'have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!' Both Bangkok and Phnom Penh thanked Trump for his intervention, although clashes reportedly continued overnight into Sunday. The border fighting erupted on July 24 and has escalated into artillery exchanges and air strikes across the disputed area between Cambodia's Preah Vihear province and Thailand's northeastern Ubon Ratchathani province. Cambodia, whose military is significantly weaker than Thailand's, has repeatedly called for an unconditional ceasefire and accused Thailand of launching heavy bombardments and drone operations. 'I made it clear to [Trump] that Cambodia agreed with the proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire,' Hun Manet said, calling Trump's mediation a step that 'will truly help protect the lives of many soldiers and civilians.' Thailand has stated its willingness to consider a ceasefire but insists that dialogue must come first. 'Thailand agrees in principle to have a ceasefire in place,' its Foreign Ministry said. 'However, Thailand would like to see sincere intention from the Cambodian side.' The fighting has displaced thousands of residents on both sides of the border, with no new casualties reported on Sunday but with the death toll still standing at 33, including six Thai and five Cambodian soldiers. The tension has also cast a shadow over regional trade. Trump noted that no negotiations on U.S. trade agreements with either country would proceed until the fighting stops. U.S. tariffs of 36% on goods imported from both Thailand and Cambodia are scheduled to take effect on August 1 unless an agreement is reached before then. It remains unclear how Trump became actively involved, especially after Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa recently dismissed the need for outside mediation. However, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had previously offered to facilitate peace talks, which now appear to be moving forward under Kuala Lumpur's diplomatic oversight. The roots of the conflict stretch back over a century, to disputes stemming from colonial-era border demarcations made following the French occupation of Cambodia. Tensions reignited this week after each side accused the other of violating prior military agreements. Thailand claimed Cambodian forces deployed drones to monitor Thai troops, while Cambodia accused Thailand of advancing on a contested Khmer-Hindu temple site. — Agencies


Arab News
3 hours ago
- Arab News
India nearing free trade deal with Oman, minister says after UK pact
NEW DELHI: India's free trade agreement with Oman is almost finalized, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has announced, only days after New Delhi signed a long-awaited trade pact with the UK. Negotiations between India and Oman on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement formally began in November 2023, with the first round in New Delhi and the second in Muscat. When the talks concluded in March 2024, Oman sought revisions on market access terms and the final signature was postponed. 'We are in negotiations at an advanced stage with Oman — almost finalized,' Goyal told reporters on Saturday evening, two days after he signed a multibillion-dollar free trade deal with the UK. 'The free trade agreement between India and UK, the Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, clearly reflects the growing relevance and importance of India at the world stage.' Under the pact, about 99 percent of Indian goods will get duty-free access to the UK market, and bilateral trade is expected to increase by over $34 billion in the next decade from the current $54 billion. India has free trade agreements with more than 10 countries, including comprehensive economic partnership agreements with South Korea, Japan, and the UAE. It is also in talks with the EU to conclude an FTA by the end of 2025, and also with Australia, with an interim deal signed in 2022 and a full one under negotiation. If India finalizes its pact with Oman, it will be its second with a Gulf Cooperation Council country after the 2022 CEPA with the UAE. While Oman is one of New Delhi's smaller GCC trading partners — trailing behind the UAE and Saudi Arabia, with bilateral trade volume accounting for about $10 billion — it remains strategically important, particularly in energy and logistics. The FTA could further deepen these ties, Anil Wadhwa, New Delhi's former envoy to Muscat, told Arab News. 'India and Oman both are set to benefit a lot from this FTA ... Oman and India have a trade volume between $8 billion and $10 billion annually, and 700 Indian companies have invested in Oman,' he said. 'Oman was keen on an FTA on the lines of the UAE. The main negotiations took less than 90 days. Since then, Oman wanted further concessions in petrochemicals and in marble ... It is understood that these negotiations are now nearing a closure.' Economic cooperation plays a crucial role in India-GCC relations, with exports to India representing 71 percent of the bloc's total exports. India has been pursuing a free trade pact with the whole bloc for the past two decades. A framework agreement on economic cooperation was signed in 2004, but two rounds of negotiations, in 2006 and 2008, were inconclusive. The agreement would give India access to a large and affluent market for its goods and also concessions on visas in a region, which is a second home for about 9 million Indian expat workers. In January, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi said that the grouping would look forward to starting free trade negotiations with India in 2025.