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2mo ago

Russian State Media Reporter Removed from Oval Office During Trump-Zelensky Meeting

The TASS journalist gained unauthorized access to the Oval Office before being escorted out, raising questions about White House press protocols.

The Ukrainian delegation leaves after a press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Donald Trump was canceled following their Oval Office meeting at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 28, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard
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A representative of the Russian state-affiliated TASS was not allowed to cover the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy because the TASS reporter wasn't on the approved list of media for the Oval Office event. (AP/Mstyslav Cherno)
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Overview

  • A reporter from Russia's state-owned TASS agency entered the Oval Office during a meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelensky without being on the pre-approved press list.
  • The journalist, Dmitry Kirsanov, was removed by the White House Press Secretary after his presence was discovered, though he had already taken a photograph and heard part of the discussion.
  • The incident followed a controversial new White House policy allowing the administration to decide which media outlets can cover events in smaller spaces, bypassing the traditional press pool system managed by the White House Correspondents' Association.
  • The Trump-Zelensky meeting featured tense exchanges over the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, with Trump accusing Zelensky of not being ready for peace negotiations involving the U.S.
  • The White House has not clarified how the TASS reporter gained access, while TASS and the U.S. Secret Service have declined to comment on the matter.