President Trump turned the tables on the media on Wednesday, threatening to send reporters "across the street" from the White House as news organizations boycott new rules for reporting on the Pentagon, the Washington Examiner reported.
The restrictions require reporters to pledge that they will not solicit or publish classified or otherwise unauthorized information, and credentialed journalists will no longer be free to roam the Pentagon building without an escort.
For years, journalists at top legacy media organizations have solicited and published classified and other sensitive information freely. In many cases, the reporting based on these leaks has been used for political purposes.
Since the dawn of the Trump era, especially, publishing leaked information has been a routine method of causing embarrassment and scandal for Trump and his allies.
Critics have said the Pentagon's new rules are broadly worded and draconian, but Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has defended them as "common sense," insisting press access is a "privilege, not a right" and that guardrails are necessary for national security.
The rules have been rejected almost universally by media organizations including Hegseth's former employer, Fox News.
“Today, we join virtually every other news organization in declining to agree to the Pentagon’s new requirements, which would restrict journalists’ ability to keep the nation and the world informed of important national security issues,” a joint statement from CBS, NBC, ABC and Fox News read. “The policy is without precedent and threatens core journalistic protections.”
With Hegseth seated next to him, Trump taunted journalists who oppose the new restrictions and suggested they have been spoiled in recent years, noting reporters did not always have easy access to the White House.
"We could move them very easily across the street. They used to be there," Trump said. "They would have more room. We have a beautiful, nice space. You could sit all by yourselves and have fun," Trump said.
"Instead, you walk around the White House talking to anybody that can breathe," Trump added.
"It bothers me to have soldiers and high-ranking generals walking around with you guys on their sleeve," Trump told the media.
"They can make a mistake and a mistake can be tragic," Trump added.
One America News Network, a pro-Trump media outlet, is the only network that has committed to signing the new rules.
Reporters began turning in their press credentials ahead of a Tuesday deadline to accept or reject the restrictions.
