A pool report published Thursday revealed that President Donald Trump joked about China having "the friendliest press corps," even as Chinese officials reportedly voiced concern about the lack of press coverage for the events.

Pool reports are shared accounts filed by a small, rotating group of journalists who cover the president on behalf of the wider White House press corps, and they often serve as the only record of moments when most outlets cannot be present. China is infamous for its government's control over the media. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) treats control of information as essential to maintaining political power and generally does not allow an independent press to freely investigate or challenge the party, organize dissent, or publish reporting the government views as threatening to social stability or its legitimacy. Yet on Thursday, even Chinese officials were reportedly concerned that Trump had lost his press pool.

White House correspondent Alayna Treene, discussing the battle over media access, called the report "remarkable."

"U.S. and Chinese photographers were separated from the pool and brought in for two sprays with the president, according to two of the photographers who were present. During the second spray, Trump made a joke about how the Chinese had the friendliest press corps," the pool report stated. In White House pool parlance, a "spray" is a brief, tightly controlled opportunity for pooled photographers and camera crews to capture the president — typically a photo opportunity with little or no chance for questions.

Treene underscored the irony of the remark, crediting the note to print reporter Carrie Pickett of The Washington Times.

"I mean, that is an incredible statement in this pool note from this print reporter. Her name is Carrie Pickett with The Washington Times. And you talked about this, Dana [Bash]. But I mean, the irony of this is pretty amazing, particularly, you know, as you mentioned, the Chinese Communist Party reporters are the state media," Treene said.

She explained that the United States was not the only side hoping for broad coverage.

"Typically there would be wall-to-wall coverage of every single event and every single speech that the president and the Chinese president and the Chinese leader are giving. But we were also told, according to a source, that Chinese officials had told people at the White House that they were concerned about the level of coverage as well," Treene said.

Bash burst into laughter at the account.

"And so I think it's really important to note the timing of this and how people at the White House aren't very happy about it coinciding," Treene added.

Bash apologized for her outburst: "I'm sorry, I just — that — I was, sort of, laughing out of — I don't even know what ... you just said — that it was even the Chinese were concerned about the American media not being in there. I mean, if that doesn't tell you everything you need to know, I don't know what does."

Bash then aired a supercut of past instances in which Trump criticized communism. The timing Treene flagged — the joke landing in the middle of the battle over media access — is the detail to watch as that fight continues.

The pool report was posted on X by the White House Press Pool account: https://x.com/WHPressPool/status/2103151649870987318

Source: Alternet