White House bars reporter after president uses offensive slur during interview

The White House revoked Andrew Feinberg’s role as the president’s print pooler for a Thursday trip to Sioux City, Iowa, without providing a reason. The decision came after a heated Oval Office encounter on Tuesday, during which President Donald Trump interrupted Feinberg’s question about a new golf course at East Potomac Park and labeled him with a slur historically tied to Down syndrome. The administration’s anonymous Rapid Response Twitter account reposted the insult, and the White House Correspondents’ Association publicly decried the removal as punitive retaliation against challenging journalism.

Vice President JD Vance joined the criticism, tagging Feinberg as an “imbecile” on his official account. The incident highlights ongoing tensions between the administration and the press, raising concerns about press freedom and access. No comment was obtained from the White House or Feinberg at the time of reporting.