Biden did not revoke the White House press passes of over 400 journalists, according to recent fact checks.

President Donald Trump’s recent decision to deny access to reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico on White House grounds has ignited discussions relating to press access under the Biden administration. Claims circulating on social media suggest that the Biden administration revoked the press passes of over 400 journalists in 2023, a narrative that is largely distorted and misrepresents the new policies implemented by the White House Press Office concerning long-term press credentials.

In 2023, the Biden administration updated its procedures for issuing long-term press passes. This revision required all journalists holding such passes to apply for renewal according to newly established criteria. As a result of this policy change, the number of journalists with active long-term press passes decreased from 1,417 to 975, indicating a decline of 442 individuals. This figure encompasses both renewals and new applications, as reported by Politico.

There are two classifications of White House press passes: hard passes and temporary passes. Hard passes are granted to journalists who regularly cover White House activities, necessitating approval from the press secretary as well as a security check by the Secret Service. Temporary passes can be acquired for specific events or on a day-to-day basis. An email sent from the White House Press Office in May 2023 informed hard pass holders that existing passes would expire on July 31, urging journalists to apply for renewal under the updated policy.

The revised criteria include stipulations such as full-time employment with a news organization, a physical address in the greater Washington, D.C., area, recent access to the White House, regular assignment to cover White House events, accreditation by relevant congressional press galleries, and consent to background checks by the Secret Service.

Critics of the policy argue that the changes have disproportionately impacted journalists, while proponents assert that the new measures ensure that only active and engaged reporters qualify for hard passes. Jen Psaki, former White House press secretary, refuted the claims on social media, stating that many news outlets, including those critical of the Biden administration, were granted hard passes under the revised policy.

In contrast, Trump’s recent actions have been characterized as censorship. His administration’s banning of specific media outlets due to perceived unfavorable reporting has prompted a legal challenge from the affected organizations, which argue that the selective denial of access constitutes a violation of the First Amendment.

In a press release, Trump’s administration defended its policies by invoking past measures taken by the Biden and Obama administrations against certain media outlets, suggesting that changes in press access are not unprecedented. However, experts have pointed out significant differences between Biden’s structured approach to press credentials and Trump’s more arbitrary restrictions on journalists whose reporting he deemed unfavorable.

This ongoing debate over media access underscores the tensions between government entities and the press, raising important questions about transparency, accountability, and the fundamental principles of a free press in a democratic society.

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