Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Nov 1: In a fresh clampdown on media movement, US President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday barred reporters from entering parts of the White House press office without prior appointments, citing the need to protect “sensitive material.”

Under the new policy, journalists are no longer allowed to access the “Upper Press” area — home to Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s office near the Oval Office — unless they have scheduled approval. Until now, reporters could freely approach senior officials there to seek clarifications or confirmations.

Media personnel can still access the “Lower Press” section adjacent to the briefing room, where junior press officers are stationed.

The National Security Council issued a memorandum titled “Protecting Sensitive Material from Unauthorized Disclosure in Upper Press,” directing the restriction to ensure adherence to “best practices.” The memo cited “recent structural changes” in the NSC as justification for the move.

The decision follows a series of media access curbs under Trump’s renewed presidency, including new Pentagon rules that several outlets, including AFP, refused to sign.

Since his return to power in January, Trump has reshaped press engagement, reducing access for mainstream media while offering greater reach to right-wing outlets. The Associated Press has also been banned from certain events after it declined to recognize Trump’s controversial renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.”