As you know, earlier today certain outlets weren’t included in a White House media gaggle and they freaked out.
Ari Fleischer, a former press secretary for Bush 43, jumped on Twitter and told people to stop freaking out. He concedes that the White House shouldn’t omit certain organizations, but also points out that every president does and this is nothing out of the ordinary:
Calm down everyone. Press secs SHOULD brief/gaggle w all press. But WH staffs & POTUSes often meet w who they want. https://t.co/qefAJdCNJu
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) February 24, 2017
Brad Jeffy quoted a NY Times editor saying this has never happened before, that this is unprecedented:
NYT Exec. Editor Dean Baquet on media exclusion: “Nothing like this has ever happened at the White House is our long history” via @NYTeileen pic.twitter.com/Gmzdp5knKU
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) February 24, 2017
But Fleischer hit back at the claim, saying the last president met with smaller groups of columnists and reporters and that media people should simply stop hyperventilating over this:
Please. Pres O met w groups of hand selected columnists. Tell me WH staff didn't have meetings w chosen reporters. Stop hyperventilating. https://t.co/y4bAHExbFT
— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) February 24, 2017
Fleischer then went on CNN and elaborated on this, even saying that Trump has been far more accessible to the press than their outrage suggests and that he’s making being a journalist fun again: