The White House News Photographers Association (WHNPA) called out Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign team for “unprecedented reduction in access” over the past several weeks, according to an August letter obtained by Axios.
Jessica Koscielniak, president of the WHNPA, addressed her Aug. 28 letter to top Harris aides expressing concern that “the four independent news photographer seats have been downgraded to one” on Air Force Two, Axios reported Thursday. Koscielniak suggested in her letter that the campaign consider adding a “chaser plane” for additional media or the White House Correspondent Association reorganizing who gets a seat on the plane, according to Axios.
“The current situation puts the still photographers at a distinct disadvantage on every trip,” Doug Mills, a veteran White House news photographer speaking in his personal capacity to Axios, told the outlet.
“It’s essential to us for people to understand the importance of having a full photographer pool. Every photographer sees each event differently,” he continued.
New: In an Aug. 28 letter obtained by Axios, the WH News Photographers Association said Harris’ team was engaging in an “unprecedented reduction in access.”
The VP’s team didn’t respond until last night after we asked about the letter
W/ @sarafischer https://t.co/OOch8LDqWX pic.twitter.com/qkl5MaStBr
— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) September 12, 2024
Koscielniak told Axios that since sending the letter she had not received a response and the situation had not improved. Harris’ office appeared to respond to the letter for the first time Wednesday, which Axios noted was after they reached out for comment. When confronted about their initial lack of response, Harris’ office told Axios they had “been in constant communication with the Chair of the White House Correspondents’ Association as the Office worked to explore solutions to increase press access.”
The vice president’s office said they had inquired about Koscielniak’s concerns and requests but they “learned both suggestions are not viable given available resources, including personnel and aircraft,” according to an email obtained by Axios.
“It’s very disappointing,” Koscielniak told Axios of Harris’ office’s response. “This is the smallest number of media to travel for a presidential race in my memory. When Vice President Harris became the presidential nominee, it should have been negotiated by the WHCA that the full 13 member travel pool be on her plane.”
Since launching her presidential campaign, Harris has faced scrutiny for her lack of unscripted moments and failure to frequently engage with the press. Even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t have a traveling press pool on the campaign trail with him, Axios notes that Harris’ competitor has engaged with the press more than her. Her first sit-down interview came more than a month into her presidential campaign and rather than being solo, the vice president brought her running mate along too. (RELATED: Harris Fails To Explain Flip-Flops, Says She Has No Regrets About Biden In First Interview)
In that interview, Harris failed to respond to why she had flip-flopped on several policy issues since hitting the campaign trail.
“Generally speaking, how should voters look at some of the changes that you’ve made that you explained some of here in your policy?” CNN’s Dana Bash asked.
“I think the most important and most significant aspect of my policy perspective and decisions is that my values have not changed,” Harris responded.
