White House bans Wall Street Journal from press pool covering Trump trip as feud escalates

The White House is banning The Wall Street Journal from traveling with President Trump during an upcoming trip to Scotland over the outlet's reporting on the president's alleged relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

"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," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement Monday to The Hill. "Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the President’s trip to Scotland. Due to the Wall Street Journal’s fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board."

Leavitt cited a decision by a federal appeals court, which ruled earlier this year the White House could restrict The Associated Press from the Oval Office and other limited spaces when reporting on the president.

"Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible," Leavitt said.

A representative for The Wall Street Journal declined to comment.

The ban comes just days after Trump filed a lawsuit against the Journal alleging defamation after it published a story detailing an alleged letter Trump sent to Epstein for his 50th birthday.

Trump has denied writing the letter.

The Journal is owned by billionaire conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch, a powerful figure in politics and business with whom Trump has feuded for years.

The White House earlier this year took control of the White House press pool, a rotating group of reporters from various outlets that travel with and cover the president's daily activities.

The White House Correspondents Association, which previously held control of the press pool, blasted the administration's move blocking the Journal from the president's upcoming trip in a statement late Monday. 

“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. Government retaliation against news outlets based on the content of their reporting should concern all who value free speech and an independent media," the WHCA said.  "We strongly urge the White House to restore the Wall Street Journal to its previous position in the pool and aboard Air Force One for the President's upcoming trip to Scotland. The WHCA stands ready to work with the administration to find a quick resolution." 

This story was updated at 6:02 p.m.