In an unusual move, the US Treasury Department has barred several reporters from major news outlets, including The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and The Wall Street Journal, from covering this week's G20 finance meeting in Asheville, North Carolina. The United States holds the rotating G20 presidency this year, and the Treasury Department is managing access to these talks, which bring together finance ministers and central bankers from major economies. Bloomberg News reported that its reporters based in the United States, France, Italy, Japan, and China were all denied access, with no explanation provided by the Treasury. The New York Times also reported that its economic policy reporter was excluded, despite years of experience covering such gatherings.
The denial of access has sparked concerns about media freedom and public accountability. A Bloomberg News spokesperson stated that denying access to the meeting 'undermines media freedom and public accountability,' and pledged to advocate for full press access while continuing to report fairly and accurately on proceedings. A Times spokesperson called the rejection 'not just another disturbing effort by the administration to undermine independent journalism, but a blatant attempt to evade public scrutiny.'
US President Donald Trump's administration has tightened press access in his second term, with the Defense Department designating its press office a classified space among other actions. The Treasury Department, however, stated that the G20 meeting would welcome nearly 300 media representatives from around a dozen countries, emphasizing that members of the media would have a high level of access to policymakers throughout the event. The Treasury spokesperson added that with the war in Iran, sanctions, the bond markets, and inflation on the agenda for the G-20 finance ministers, the stakes of this gathering are significant for the global economy and the American people.
FAQs
- **Why were some reporters barred from the G20 finance meeting?** The US Treasury Department did not provide a specific reason for denying credentials to reporters from The New York Times, Bloomberg News, and The Wall Street Journal.
- **How has the US administration handled press access in the past?** President Donald Trump's administration has tightened press access in his second term, with actions such as designating the Defense Department's press office as a classified space.
- **What is the significance of the G20 finance meeting?** The G20 finance meeting brings together finance ministers and central bankers from major economies to discuss critical issues such as the war in Iran, sanctions, the bond markets, and inflation, which have significant implications for the global economy.
- **What did the Treasury Department say about media access to the G20 meeting?** The Treasury Department stated that the meeting would welcome nearly 300 media representatives from around a dozen countries and emphasized that media would have a high level of access to policymakers.
