The Wall Street Journal is paying the price for a report about President Donald Trump and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The news organization owned by billionaire media mogul Rupert Murdoch has its own “fake and defamatory conduct” to thank for getting booted from the press pool that will cover Trump’s upcoming trip to Scotland.
The White House made it clear that while 13 outlets will cover the president’s trip, the Wall Street Journal will not be one of them.
JUST IN: The White House has BOOTED the Wall Street Journal from the press pool for Trump’s trip to Scotland this week
FAFO, @WSJ pic.twitter.com/Nj7tYRAxia
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) July 21, 2025
“As the appeals court confirmed, The Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement on Monday, reminding of the appeals court decision that allowed the White House to restrict the Associated Press from the Oval Office earlier this year.
“Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the President’s trip to Scotland. Due to the Wall Street Journal’s fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board,” she added.
“Every news organization in the entire world wishes to cover President Trump, and the White House has taken significant steps to include as many voices as possible,” Leavitt said.
Trump is slated to visit “his ancestral home of Scotland from July 25-29, with stops in Aberdeen and Turnberry, where he owns golf courses,” CBS News reported.
As reported, the president hit the WSJ and Murdoch with a lawsuit after the publication of a report alleging a “bawdy” birthday letter to Epstein, including a drawing of a naked woman.
Trump lashes Murdoch, WSJ in blistering statement after hitting them with ‘BIGLY’ lawsuit https://t.co/7uPfEptNyd via @BIZPACReview
— BPR based (@DumpstrFireNews) July 19, 2025
The White House Correspondents’ Association responded to the White House’s decision to ban the WSJ from the Scotland trip.
“This attempt by the White House to punish a media outlet whose coverage it does not like is deeply troubling, and it defies the First Amendment. Government retaliation against news outlets based on the content of their reporting should concern all who value free speech and an independent media,” said CBS News senior White House correspondent and WHCA President Weijia Jiang.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida. Powers also contributes to BizPac Review.
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