Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank says the White House revoked his press pass after years of covering presidents.
“For the past 21 years, I have had the high privilege of holding a White House press pass, a magical ticket that gives the bearer a front-row seat to history,” he wrote in the Post.
“After covering four presidents, I received an email informing me that (President Donald) Trump’s press office had revoked my White House credential.”
Milbank said he received the notice from the White House this week.
“I’m not the only one,” he said. “I was part of a mass purge of ‘hard pass’ holders after the White House implemented a new standard that designated as unqualified almost the entire White House press corps, including all seven of the Post’s White House correspondents.”
He said officials “then chose which journalists would be granted ‘exceptions.’”
The Post asked for exceptions for all seven of its reporters and Milbank.
“The White House press office granted exceptions to the other seven, but not to me,” he said. “I strongly suspect it’s because I’m a Trump critic.”
He said the White House has offered him a lesser credential called a six-month pass.
“I’m not looking for pity,” he said. “But there’s something wrong with a president having the power to decide which journalists can cover him.”
But Milbank said he will continue covering the White House, “albeit from a distance, and wait for things to return to normal – if they ever do.”
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.