White House threatens to revoke 'hard pass' of reporter for 'being rude' to Karine Jean-Pierre at briefing

Reporter Simon Ateba, who has often clashed with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, was formally warned that his "hard pass" could be revoked due to bad "behavior" and violating conduct.

A "hard pass" eliminates the need for a reporter to go through a White House screening process and requires that a journalist be present in the White House for at least 90 days out of a 180-day period. Otherwise, outlets apply for exceptions, or six-month passes, which don’t allow as much access, according to the Columbia Journalism Review.

The letter listed four examples when the Today News Africa correspondent allegedly broke the White House's rules of conduct.

"You impeded a June 26, 2023, press briefing and interrupted the Press Secretary. When the Press Secretary called on another member of the press, you continued to interrupt, preventing your colleague from asking his question. You did not stop interrupting," the first example read.

The primary reason added that Ateba was informed by the press secretary that he was "being rude" to Jean-Pierre and his colleagues, but did not stop.

"On May 13, 2022, you repeatedly interrupted colleagues who were attempting to ask important questions about the supply of baby formula. On December 8, 2022, you interrupted the press briefing and demanded to ask a question. When the Press Secretary tried to answer your question, you interrupted and shouted over her answer," the warning continued.

"On March 20, 2023, you prevented the Press Secretary from introducing White House guests at a press briefing by shouting over her. Other members of the press called for 'decorum' in the room," the letter decried.

The letter came no more than three days after a Washington Post article was published, titled "Simon Ateba, the reporter making himself the story at the White House."

The article, which was written by Paul Farhi, claimed the reporter has alienated colleagues, agitated the press secretary, and “delighted conservative media by interrupting to claim he has been overlooked.”

Ateba described the article as a "hit piece meant to prevent [him] from renewing [his] hard pass."

The reporter's alleged March 2023 violation was widely publicized when he told the press secretary that she had not called on him for a question in seven months.

The Columbia Journalism Review reported In 2019 that nearly the entire press corps failed to meet the new requirements for a "hard pass," which included all six of the Washington Post's White House correspondents.

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