CNN Panel: Scott Jennings Calls Out Biden for Previously Revoking Hundreds of Press Passes

CNN Panel Debates White House Press Pool Changes

A CNN panel discussing the Trump administration’s recent overhaul of the White House press pool selection process faced pushback from Republican strategist Scott Jennings on Tuesday. The White House announced that the White House Correspondents’ Association would no longer control the composition of the press pool—a shift that sparked criticism from panelists who likened it to the actions of authoritarian regimes.

During the segment on "CNN NewsNight", host Abby Phillip and former Democratic National Committee Communications Director Xochitl Hinojosa expressed concerns about the change, with Hinojosa comparing it to “the early days of Putin’s reign.” The Trump White House / Wikimedia

Jennings Challenges Press Access Concerns

“Okay, can we just address this dictator business? I‘m going to quote from some statistics,” Jennings responded.

Jennings then cited data compiled by journalist Chris Cillizza, noting, “In the first month of the Trump administration, the president took 1,009 questions. Hardly dictatorial behavior. Same stat for Joe Biden: 141.” He went on to highlight that in 2023, the Biden administration revoked the hard passes of 442 journalists, adding, “And at the time, the White House Correspondents Association took ‘a non-committal stance.’ So if you’re worried about transparency, Trump is being far more transparent than any recent administration.” U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jordan Powell / Wikimedia

Biden Administration’s Press Access Restrictions

The press access debate follows the Biden administration’s May 2023 policy change tightening the rules for issuing “hard passes” to journalists, a move that resulted in hundreds of media professionals losing their credentials. Additionally, Biden has held fewer press conferences than any president since Ronald Reagan. The White House / Wikimedia

Scrutiny Over Biden’s Press Accessibility Raises Questions

Concerns about Biden’s accessibility to the press have been compounded by reports that his aides have increasingly shielded him, even from senior officials. A Wall Street Journal report from December 19 detailed that White House aides had “insulated” Biden as his health declined, echoing previous reports that faced media scrutiny. Questions have also been raised regarding Biden’s memory, as he has repeatedly claimed to have spoken with deceased world leaders, including former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who passed away in 2017, and former French President Francois Mitterrand, who died in 1996. The White House / Wikimedia