WHCA Chief: Trump Admin Has Asked Group to Criticize Peer Outlets

White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) President Jeff Mason on Monday alleged that persons within President Donald Trump's administration has asked him more than once to criticize other peers, The Washington Post reported.

"There have definitely been times over the last several months where the White House has come to us — often to me specifically — asking that we or I intervene and criticize a member news organization or reporter," Mason said at an event at the White House Historical Association.

Mason, who works for Reuters news service covering the White House, cited one example.

"In one case, and I won't say the name, but in one case, I was asked to on behalf of the WHCA to release a statement criticizing a reporter's story," the Post quoted Mason. "And I said 'No,' because that's not what we do and that's not something we would ever do."

WHCA's mission: "The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is a nonprofit … organization whose mission is to ensure a strong free press and robust coverage of the presidency by advocating for access by the media to the president, White House events and administration officials."

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