Donald Trump only takes questions from right-wing news outlets in press conferences

WASHINGTON, 16 Feb. - (ANA) - Donald Trump only took questions from right-wing news outlets for a third press conference in a row.

The US President hosted a joint conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House on Wednesday.

But after a speech that covered Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Mr Trump only took questions from Christian Broadcasting Network and Townhall, two outlets widely considered to hold conservative views.

In a joint press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on 13 February, Mr Trump again only took two questions; one from WJLA, a news channel found to have “a strong tilt toward Trump” during the 2016 election, and another from The Daily Caller, a conservative outlet.

On 10 February, during a media conference with the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the 70-year-old only took questions from the New York Post and Fox News.

As Mr Trump and Mr Netanyahu’s press conference came to an end, a reporter could be heard asking the President if he was “going to answer any questions” on “contacts” with Russia, but the 70-year-old failed to respond.

The absence of coverage given to left-leaning or centrist news organisations at recent press conferences has prompted accusations that the President is avoiding “tough questions”.

Speaking after the press conference, Jim Acosta, senior White House correspondent for CNN, told the news channel “the fix is in”.

“This President does not want to answer critical questions about his associates, his aides’ contacts with the Russians during the course of that campaign, just as his national security adviser is being run out of this White House on a rail,” he said.

“They may think this is being cute, or they think this is strategic in terms of trying to shield the President from questions, but those questions can only be shielded for so long.” - (ANA) -

AB/ANA/ 16 February 2017 - - -