The White House Correspondents' Association says it stands with the Washington Post and other news organizations after Donald Trump announced he would revoke the newspaper's press credentials.
In a statement Tuesday, the WHCA said candidates running for the presidency "must respect the role of a free and adversarial press,'' and warned that failure to do so "just because he or she does not like the tone or content of their coverage'' risked violating the First Amendment.
Trump said Monday that he is revoking the newspaper's credentials "based on the incredibly inaccurate coverage and reporting of the record setting Trump campaign."
He wrote that he's "no fan of" President Barack Obama, but faulted the Post for a headline posted Monday that he said read, "Donald Trump suggests President Obama was involved with Orlando shooting."
The headline on the story Monday afternoon read, "Donald Trump seems to connect President Obama to Orlando shooting." Trump said in an interview on Fox News Channel Monday morning that when it comes to fighting terrorism, the president "doesn't get it or, or he gets it better than anybody understands."
Post spokeswoman Kristine Coratti Kelly said in an email the headline was changed shortly after the story posted "to more properly reflect what Trump said." She added, "We did so on our own; the Trump campaign never contacted us about it."
Post editor Martin Baron said Monday that Trump's decision "is nothing less than a repudiation of the role of a free and independent press.''
Local
Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia local news, events and information
"When coverage doesn't correspond to what the candidate wants it to be, then a news organization is banished. The Post will continue to cover Donald Trump as it has all along - honorably, honestly, accurately, energetically, and unflinchingly. We're proud of our coverage, and we're going to keep at it,'' he said.
Trump's campaign reiterated its decision in a statement Monday evening.
"We no longer feel compelled to work with a publication which has put its need for 'clicks' above journalistic integrity,'' it read.
A Post photographer and reporter attended Trump's speech in New Hampshire Monday afternoon without issue.
Trump's campaign has revoked credentials from reporters at other news outlets including Buzzfeed, The Daily Beast, Politico and the Des Moines Register.
