Press Access Issues at Biden"s Quad Summit in Washington

The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Biden administration's limited press access during the recent Quad Summit held in Washington. WHCA president Eugene Daniels criticized the decision to restrict reporters from covering bilateral meetings, citing security concerns as the reason provided by the White House. He emphasized that this lack of access was unprecedented for a president meeting foreign leaders on U.S. soil, calling it unacceptable and urging the administration to reconsider its stance on press access. Daniels highlighted that the current arrangement only allowed the press to see the leaders' arrivals without any direct coverage of President Biden during these significant discussions. He pointed out that the WHCA has consistently advocated for transparency and access during such events, which are crucial for informing the public. The administration's approach was seen as a departure from long-established standards of media access. In response to the criticism, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre defended the administration's position, stating that there would be ample opportunities for the press to engage with the president and the visiting leaders throughout the day. She mentioned planned events, including a visit to a high school and a farewell opportunity for the press to capture moments with the leaders as they departed. Jean-Pierre also addressed concerns about the nature of the coverage, asserting that photo opportunities are significant and may include chances for questions. Despite the WHCA's ongoing frustrations, the administration maintained that it had created sufficient opportunities for press engagement during the summit.