A Russian journalist from the state-owned news agency TASS reportedly entered the Oval Office during a high-stakes meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The incident has raised concerns about White House security protocols, especially as major Western news agencies, such as AP and Reuters, were denied access to the meeting.
Unauthorized Entry Raises Questions
According to HotNews.ro, the journalist was not on the approved press list but still managed to enter the Oval Office, where discussions were taking place regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine.
"TASS was not on today's approved press list," a White House official told CNN, adding that the reporter was removed once press staff became aware of the situation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt later confirmed that the journalist had been escorted out.
This breach comes just days after the White House took direct control over press access, ending a long-standing tradition where the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) managed journalist selection. Leavitt defended the new policy, stating that WHCA “should no longer have a monopoly on White House press access.”
A Security Oversight or a Policy Shift?
The presence of a Russian state media journalist, despite security measures, has fueled speculation about potential protocol failures. Critics argue that while a TASS reporter gained access, two major Western news agencies—AP and Reuters—were excluded, signaling a possible shift in how the administration handles media access.
The situation has also sparked concerns about potential security risks, given that Russian media is closely tied to the Kremlin. Some officials fear that such breaches could be exploited for intelligence gathering or propaganda purposes.
While the White House maintains that the journalist’s presence was an accident, the incident highlights growing tensions over media access and security under the current administration.
