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SCAREDY TRUMP Kicks the Wall Street Journal Out of the Press Pool for His Next Junket Overseas [1]

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Date: 2025-07-21

The six month old tenure of Donald Trump's second occupation of the White House has been a debacle of epic proportions. He has presided over a faltering domestic economy that has resulted in a higher cost of living. And his foreign policy is anchored by fascist round ups of migrants, betrayal of international allies, and threats to Panama, Greenland, and Canada of forced annexation.

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In the midst of all of that, Trump also seems to be intent on preserving his place as the most hostile American president toward the free press and the protections granted it in the First Amendment of the Constitution. His animosity toward honest, unfettered journalism is evident in his reshaping of the White House press office that is now populated by MAGA cult propagandists and Trump-fluffing Internet trolls. Including a Russian funded MAGA podcaster.

SEE THIS: Trump Declares Himself King of the White House Press Corps, Will Now Decide Who Can Question Him

So it shouldn't surprise anyone that Trump has now banished the Wall Street Journal from the press poll that will accompany him on his upcoming trip to Scotland. Some folks might wonder why Trump would single out a markedly right-wing newspaper owned by his friend - and Fox News owner - Rupert Murdoch. Well, as reported by Politico...

"The White House is removing the Wall Street Journal from the pool of reporters covering the president’s weekend trip to Scotland, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told POLITICO. The move follows the Journal’s report alleging that President Donald Trump sent a sexually suggestive message to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003."

That's right! Trump is lashing out like spurned child against a playmate that was insufficiently adoring and obedient. The article in the Journal described a birthday card that Trump allegedly signed for his pedo-pal, Jeffrey Epstein, as having a line drawing of a naked woman with Trump's unique and disturbing birthday wish saying that “may every day be another wonderful secret.”

Trump has already filed a $10 billion lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal for their article. That case has now been assigned to a judge in the Southern District of Florida who was appointed by President Obama. Ironically, it's the same District as Trump flunky judge Aileen Cannon. This sets up precisely the scenario that Trump wants. When he loses this meritless case he will blame the judge for being biased and assert that the whole justice system is corrupt.

In the meantime, Trump is proving that he is too afraid to face any questions about his relationship with Epstein, the story about the birthday card, or the lawsuit itself. Trump's Propaganda Secretary, Karoline Leavitt, who couldn't even muster a denial that he is on the Epstein client list, released a statement saying...

"As the appeals court confirmed, the Wall Street Journal or any other news outlet are not guaranteed special access to cover President Trump in the Oval Office, aboard Air Force One, and in his private workspaces. Thirteen diverse outlets will participate in the press pool to cover the President’s trip to Scotland. Due to the Wall Street Journal’s fake and defamatory conduct, they will not be one of the thirteen outlets on board."

If allegations about "fake and defamatory conduct" are the standard for whether a news organization is granted access to the president, then there aren't very many news organizations that would pass Trump's test. In addition to the Wall Street Journal, he has already sued ABC News, CBS News, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNN. And most of the rest of the media he has declared is "fake" news. That's why his press pool is infested with suck-ups like One America News, Breitbart, and various online fraudcasters.

If this case actually goes to trial, Trump is unlikely to win. He would have to show evidence that what they published was either knowingly false, or that it had reckless disregard for the truth. And the claim that the Journal "maligned President Trump’s character and integrity" would be difficult to prove, considering that he has no discernable character or integrity.

Nevertheless, some of the other targets of Trump's multibillion lawsuits have settled with him for a few million dollars due to fear of him using his governmental powers to retaliate against their corporate owners. The Wall Street Journal doesn't appear to have any pending business that would make such threats viable. And for the time being they are standing firm with a pledge to vigorously defend themselves and their reporting.

However, given Trump's willingness to abuse the vast power of the federal government, and his friendship with Murdoch, time will tell if they can weather this storm of litigation, or persuade Trump to lay off. In the meantime, they have been shut out of the press pool, along with the Associated Press, and others who offended Trump's tender fee fees. That's the risk you take if you comply with an aspiring dictator who seeks to control the media and silence any and all dissenting voices.

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