White House drops Andrew Feinberg as print pool reporter for Trump's Thursday trip, Semafor's Max Tani reports

As of 4:24 a.m. ET, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

The White House told Andrew Feinberg, a White House correspondent for The Independent, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, that he would no longer serve as the print pool reporter on President Trump's trip on Thursday, Oct. 22, Semafor media editor Max Tani reported on X.

Feinberg confirmed to him that, "without explanation, the White House told him" on Wednesday "that he would no longer be the print pooler on Trump's Thursday trip," Tani wrote at 6:32 p.m. ET Wednesday. Tani said Feinberg had been slated to serve as the print pool reporter on Thursday.

Correspondents' association responds

At 7:08 p.m. ET Wednesday, the White House Correspondents' Association posted a statement on X from its president, Jacqui Heinrich.

"The White House Correspondents' Association strongly objects to the decision to restrict a journalist's coverage simply because the president didn't care for their questioning. That is retaliation," the statement said. "The American public's right to an independent press depends on reporters being able to do their jobs without fear that challenging the president will cut off their access."

Heinrich posted the same statement from her own X account at 7:06 p.m. ET Wednesday.

What is not known

The association's statement does not name the journalist whose coverage was restricted, and Tani's post does not say where Trump is traveling on Thursday.