Members of the media have expressed frustration about a lack of access during President Joe Biden’s first trip overseas.
Washington Post White House buro chief Ashley Parker said that the media had more access under previous administrations and has now been forced to rely on updates from the official Twitter for the Turkish government.
“Biden is abroad doing a big push on democracy v autocracy. BUT the U.S. press — a key part of any functioning democracy — has gotten less access than under previous administrations,” Parker said. “And is now forced to resort to updates on from…the Turkish government Twitter account.” (RELATED: WSJ Editorial Board Slams G-7 For ‘Feckless’ Calls For COVID Origin Investigation)
Biden is abroad doing a big push on democracy v autocracy. BUT the U.S. press — a key part of any functioning democracy — has gotten less access than under previous administrations. And is now forced to resort to updates on from…the Turkish government Twitter account. https://t.co/Xa2jkUNnhI
— Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) June 14, 2021
Other journalists, including NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly, Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman, Bloomberg News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs, Washington Post White House reporters Tyler Pager and Annie Linskey, and CNN White House correspondent Jeremy Diamond, shared Parker’s tweet.
Politico White House Correspondent and Associate Editor Anita Kumar said that there was a delay for Biden’s address that was scheduled to take place in Brussels. She said that the press had not been given an update on the delay despite being in the room for more than half an hour.
No update on the delay has been given but the pool has been in the room for more than 30 mins https://t.co/AxCqIRaonZ
— Anita Kumar (@anitakumar01) June 14, 2021
Turkey also provided a readout of Biden’s meeting with Turkish President Erdoğan but the United States did not, according to Voice of America White House reporter Patsy Widakuswara.
Biden traveled for the first overseas trip of his presidency to meet with the leaders of the world’s seven largest advanced economies for the G-7 summit in Cornwall. The summit finished on Sunday.
