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White House Correspondents' Association: Trump Ditching Media 'Unacceptable'

by VOA News

   The White House Correspondents' Association says it was "unacceptable"
   for President-elect Donald Trump to travel without a pool of
   journalists after he left his New York residence Tuesday night to have
   dinner at a restaurant.

   Trump's transition team had told members of the media that he would not
   be in public for the rest of the day. It declared a "lid" on the
   incoming president's day, so reporters were not expecting an event.

   Trump traveled a short distance from his high rise home to Manhattan's
   21 Club to dine with his family.

   The WHCA said in a statement that, "One week after the election, it is
   unacceptable for the next president of the United States to travel
   without a regular pool to record his movements and inform the public
   about his whereabouts."

   CNN reported that a Bloomberg staffer, who was also dining at the
   restaurant, tweeted a picture and that is how journalists found out.

   Presidential whereabouts

   It is customary for a protective pool of journalists to join a
   president or president-elect's motorcade to document their whereabouts
   and events and cover stories in case of breaking news.

   The Associated Press reported that before dinner in Manhattan, Trump
   left the press behind and met with Vice President-elect and transition
   team head Mike Pence without any official announcement.

   Trump's spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, reassured reporters that the
   transition team will respect the tradition of press access at the White
   House.

   Hope Hicks, press secretary for President-elect Donald Trump's
   campaign, arrives at Trump Tower, Nov. 14, 2016, in New York.

   Critical component
   WHCA President Jeff Mason said in a statement that he "is pleased to
   hear reassurances by the Trump transition team that it will respect
   long-held traditions of press access" but added "the time to act on
   that promise is now. Pool reporters are in place in New York to cover
   the president-elect as he assembles his new administration. It is
   critical that they be allowed to do their jobs."