Brian Stelter, a figure known for his left-wing media views and controversial reputation, has found himself facing yet another setback.
Following his departure from CNN and recent grievances about being likened to a baked potato, Stelter was recently denied press credentials to Trump campaign events.
The decision was part of a series of punitive measures the campaign took against reporters who have covered stories critical of the Trump administration.
According to a report by Vanity Fair, other journalists have also faced similar treatment from the campaign.
An Axios reporter had their credentials revoked on the same day they published a story about the Republican National Committee’s struggles in swing states.
Another Washington Post reporter was temporarily denied press access after accurately reporting on Trump’s public statements.
Most recently, Brian Stelter himself was denied entry to Trump’s rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania.
While these reporters have not been outright banned from attending events, they are instead required to enter as members of the public, which can be inconvenient given their busy schedules.
This tactic makes it harder for critics to accuse the campaign of completely shutting out journalists since it is done on a case-by-case basis and is often temporary.
In response to allegations that they are restricting press access, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung refuted these claims and encouraged reporters to apply for general admission tickets instead.
He asserted that no one has been denied access to events and highlighted the campaign’s efforts to be open and accessible to the media.
Cheung emphasized past instances where reporters were granted unique privileges such as flying on “Trump Force One” and live streaming from motorcades.
However, Cheung also mentioned instances where certain reporters had engaged in unethical behavior or breached journalistic standards by sharing privileged information with other campaigns or individuals.
These individuals, according to Cheung, would not be trusted by the campaign again and would not receive special treatment.
Unfortunately for Brian Stelter, it seems he has fallen into this category of journalists who have lost trust with the Trump campaign.
As a result, he will need to either purchase general admission tickets or he will be missing out on covering these events altogether.
