White House Correspondents' Association Criticizes Biden Administration for Restricting Press Access to Quad Summit

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) has strongly condemned the Biden administration's decision to deny press access to President Biden's upcoming Quad Summit with leaders from Australia, India, and Japan.

The Biden administration's decision to restrict press access to President Biden's upcoming Quad Summit with leaders from Australia, India, and Japan has sparked outrage among journalists. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) has denounced the move as "unacceptable" and a violation of established standards for press access.

The Quad Summit is a high-profile event that brings together leaders from four major global powers to discuss a range of issues, including security, economics, and climate change. The White House has announced that the summit will take place at President Biden's Wilmington, Delaware home, but reporters will not be allowed to cover the meetings in person.

White House Correspondents' Association Criticizes Biden Administration for Restricting Press Access to Quad Summit

The WHCA, in a letter to the White House, expressed its dismay over the decision, arguing that it is essential for the public to have direct and independent press accounts of the proceedings. The association pointed out that past presidents have allowed press pools when hosting foreign leaders at their homes, and that the Biden administration's actions are a departure from this practice.

WHCA president and Politico correspondent Eugene Daniels wrote in the letter, "The lack of access to the president of the United States for these bilateral meetings due to a location chosen by the White House is unacceptable to the WHCA." He added, "The WHCA’s position is that shouldn’t be the case this time either."

White House Correspondents' Association Criticizes Biden Administration for Restricting Press Access to Quad Summit

The White House has defended its decision, citing security concerns. However, reporters have questioned this rationale, noting that similar summits in the past have been covered by press pools. They also argue that the administration's decision is part of a broader pattern of limiting media access and attacking reporters for negative press.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said during a press briefing on Thursday that the administration understands the importance of press access, but that it is necessary to balance this with security concerns. She added that reporters will have other opportunities to see President Biden and the world leaders throughout the summit.

White House Correspondents' Association Criticizes Biden Administration for Restricting Press Access to Quad Summit

However, reporters objected that the opportunities provided by the White House are not equivalent to full access to the meetings. They also noted that the president has not held a formal press conference in over a month, and that the administration has repeatedly refused to take questions from reporters at events.

The WHCA has been critical of the Biden administration over its hostility to the press in the past. In December 2021, the association called on the administration to "reevaluate its approach to media engagement" after a series of incidents in which reporters were mistreated or denied access to information.

White House Correspondents' Association Criticizes Biden Administration for Restricting Press Access to Quad Summit

The administration's decision to restrict press access to the Quad Summit has further strained the relationship between the White House and the media. The WHCA has urged the administration to reconsider its position and to provide full access to the event.