John Moore is an impeccably credentialed photojournalist. His work through Getty is used by newspapers and other media outlets the world over. That work includes extensive documentation of border patrol operations under every U.S. President who has been in office during his career.
Until now, that is.
“I have photographed CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump but now – zero access is granted to media,” Moore wrote on Twitter. He didn’t type Biden’s name, but he specified it by omission in naming the other presidents.
“There’s no modern precedent for a full physical ban on media access to CBP border operations,” he said, again making the intent perfectly clear.
Emily Zanotti, writing for Daily Wire, highlights the fact that a bipartisan group of senators are demanding Biden open the door and let the sunshine in on his border operations. Daily Wire’s Ryan Saavedra points out that it ties directly in with the outcry from this professional and prominent photojournalist.
Moore’s tweet thread is revealing. And damning. He doesn’t let Biden get away with any pandemic excuses or anything.
I respectfully ask US Customs and Border Protection to stop blocking media access to their border operations. I have photographed CBP under Bush, Obama and Trump but now – zero access is granted to media. These long lens images taken from the Mexican side. @CBP #gettyimagesnews pic.twitter.com/cWa90TlfeS
— John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 19, 2021
There’s no modern precedent for a full physical ban on media access to CBP border operations. To those who might say, cut them some slack – they are dealing with a situation, I’d say that showing the US response to the current immigrant surge is exactly the media’s role.
— John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 19, 2021
Photographing Border Patrol agents and immigrant encounters can and has been done respectfully without interfering with operations. Regardless, @cbp public affairs exists to work with media.
— John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 19, 2021
And Pandemic restrictions are not a valid excuse to block physical media access, especially to operations that are outside. There are easy alternative options to media ride-alongs. @cbp
— John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 19, 2021
Showing the difficult and important work of @cbp agents in the field, while also photographing immigrants in a dignified way are not mutually exclusive endeavors. Transparency is key, even in a politicized environment. @DHSgov
— John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 19, 2021
The photographs in this tweet string were taken with a telephoto lens from across the border in Mexico. Until now, US photojournalists haven’t needed to stand in another country to photograph what’s happening – in the United States.
— John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 20, 2021
The vast majority of river crossings by asylum seekers happen on federal land in south Texas’ Rio Grande Valley. The federal govt. controls access to those areas. The Border Patrol has been removing journalists who enter, including recently myself, CBS, others. @cbsmireya
— John Moore (@jbmoorephoto) March 20, 2021
Moore’s red flag here is an important moment. The administration is being dragged for their handling of the border. They’ve been so busy refusing to use the word crisis they haven’t done anything to handle the crisis. All the Sunday morning shows focused on it.
And now a respected member of the profession Democrats and liberals claim to revere and hold sacred is speaking out about Biden keeping secrets and hiding what he’s doing.
That’s a big deal, and he has the background and receipts to back it up.
Here’s some of his recent work, from during President Donald Trump’s administration.
Embed from Getty Images
And here are some from during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Embed from Getty Images
He was a war photographer, too, after 9/11.
They haven’t been in office three months yet and already Biden is falling, literally, apart. When he said “President Harris” the other day, was that a slip of the tongue? Or was his slip showing?