White House bars Politico from Monday Air Force One trip

Politico barred from the plane

The White House will prevent Politico journalists from boarding Air Force One on Monday, blocking the outlet from carrying out its assigned pool duties while covering President Donald Trump.

The restriction means Politico’s journalists cannot travel aboard the presidential plane for the day. CNN first reported the decision.

The action is focused on Monday’s Air Force One access and Politico’s role in the press pool. It is not connected to a candidate race or an election.

Effect on the press pool

There will be no print representative aboard to distribute reports on Trump’s statements and movements during the day. Those updates would otherwise give journalists who are not traveling on the plane a record of what the president says and does while in transit.

The absence affects the print portion of the pool operation. Politico was scheduled to fulfill that duty, and the White House’s decision prevents the outlet from completing the assignment from aboard Air Force One.

Next steps

Monday’s travel will put the restriction into effect. The immediate process questions are how the day’s pool coverage will operate without a print representative and whether the White House will address Politico’s access after that assignment ends.

Any explanation from the White House or response from Politico could clarify the scope of the action and whether it extends beyond Monday’s presidential travel.