A single U.S. print reporter was allowed to observe President Trump and Kim Jong Un’s dinner in Vietnam Wednesday, after other reporters complained the press was being shut out.
The Wall Street Journal’s Vivian Salama was allowed into the room after photojournalists protested the decision to keep all print reporters out.
“Please note: your print pooler is the only print reporter who will be allowed into the final spray tonight with Chairman Kim,” Salama said, adding that originally Sanders said that no print reporters would be allowed in the room.
A CNN White House correspondent said that journalists were barred from the dinner because the North Korean leader doesn’t like questions being shouted at them.
“A lot of catering to Kim Jong Un going on in Vietnam. First press is kicked out of hotel where Kim is staying. Now some reporters are blocked from pool spray because the dictator doesn’t like shouted questions,” Jim Acosta tweeted Wednesday.
A lot of catering to Kim Jong Un going on in Vietnam. First press is kicked out of hotel where Kim is staying. Now some reporters are blocked from pool spray because the dictator doesn’t like shouted questions. https://t.co/diJ8vVVO4M
— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) February 27, 2019
But White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the U.S. side was pushing for more access.
“Due to the sensitive nature of the meetings we have limited the pool for the dinner to a smaller group, but ensured that representation of photographers, TV, radio, and print Poolers are all in the room,” Sanders said ahead of the dinner. “We are continuing to negotiate aspects of this historic summit and will always work to make sure the U.S. media has as much access as possible.”
The decision kept major U.S. news wires out of the historic meeting.
Wire writers from @Reuters @AP @business were excluded from going with the press pool to see the dinner between @realDonaldTrump and #KimJongUn. AP colleague @JonLemire and I were among those. We both asked questions during the first “pool spray” when the two leaders shook hands.
— Jeff Mason (@jeffmason1) February 27, 2019
