# Being disrespectful during White House Press conferences **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 18, 2018, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624 "2018-04-18T08:30:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/1 "2018-04-18T08:30:48Z")
Is there any kind of penalty for acting disrespectfully (laughing, leaving the room, shouting “liar”) during WH press conferences, other than possibly being told not to attend any future ones? ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/2 "2018-04-18T11:00:38Z")
from what I recall there is a white house press association that helps to choose who gets in the room and where they sit. I assume the white house can also decide to kick people out and find a new person to fill the vacant spot. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/3 "2018-04-18T11:15:11Z")
True, but that’s the limit of it; there’s no such thing as “contempt of president”, for instance. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/4 "2018-04-18T11:20:47Z")
This is the press group that controls who gets into the press briefings. They are independent of the white house. > **[White House Correspondents' Association](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_Correspondents%27_Association)** > > The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the president of the United States. The WHCA was founded on February 25, 1914, by journalists in response to an unfounded rumor that a United States congressional committee would select which journalists could attend press conferences of President Woodrow Wilson. > The WHCA operates independently of the White House. Among the more notable issues handled by the WHCA are the credentia... ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/5 "2018-04-18T12:48:56Z")
As W.C. Fields might have said, “The top journalist from every news organization is invited to join a White House press briefing. The worst journalist from every news organization is invited to join all White House press briefings.” Even though the idea is bandied about every now and then, it would be a pretty extraordinary step to ban a member of the press from White House access. Only a very small percentage of credentialed reporters can attend the daily press briefings. More info here, though a paywall might be involved: > **[Can the White House Revoke a Reporter’s Credentials?](https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/06/07/can-the-white-house-revoke-a-reporters-credentials/)** > > Not really. > [@](#): > > But if the 89-year-old Thomas had insisted on remaining, could the White House have forced her out of the press corps? > > Probably not. To get accredited for the White House, a reporter first needs to be approved for a congressional press pass by the Standing Committee of Correspondents, elected by accredited reporters. . . . The White House also requires an additional Secret Service background check. The White House Correspondents‘ Association (WHCA), a professional association of journalists who cover the president, is not involved in the credentialing process, and White House reporters are not required to be WHCA members… > > The Nation‘s Robert Sherrill was denied Secret Service clearance during Lyndon Johnson’s administration on the grounds that he posed a physical threat to the president. (He had gotten into a few fistfights with government officials earlier in his career.) ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/6 "2018-04-18T13:05:19Z")
Considering how Trump hates the free press and constantly insults them by calling them “fake” and “liars”, I’d have to say that they are surprisingly respectful. ---
**Author:** ![Uniqueorn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uniqueorn/32/2807_2.png) [@Uniqueorn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniqueorn)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/7 "2018-04-18T13:19:39Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Considering how Trump hates the free press and constantly insults them by calling them “fake” and “liars”, I’d have to say that they are surprisingly respectful. Indeed. That’s why I was wondering whether they are behaving so civilly because of potential penalties. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/8 "2018-04-18T13:24:06Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > True, but that’s the limit of it; there’s no such thing as “contempt of president”, for instance. That person probably stands an excellent chance of being fired from their job, as the lady that flipped off Trump’s motorcade recently learned. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/9 "2018-04-18T13:27:12Z")
Wait, do we mean for the reporters, or for the Press Secretary? ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/10 "2018-04-18T13:57:54Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Considering how Trump hates the free press and constantly insults them by calling them “fake” and “liars”, I’d have to say that they are surprisingly respectful. He calls them that only when they put out fake bullshit and lies. You neglected that part of it. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/11 "2018-04-18T14:35:09Z")
> [@Uniqueorn](#): > > Indeed. That’s why I was wondering whether they are behaving so civilly because of potential penalties. I think the only realistic penalty they would face would be never being picked to ask a question. Press secretaries, representing the administration and the President, can hold grudges a long time. A reporter in that spot may be permitted to remain in the briefing pool, but they’d be stuck listening to everyone else’s participation. Not a good thing for a hard-charging take-charge journalist. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/12 "2018-04-18T14:57:03Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Considering how Trump hates the free press and constantly insults them by calling them “fake” and “liars”, I’d have to say that they are surprisingly respectful. > [@Clothahump](#): > > He calls them that only when they put out fake bullshit and lies. You neglected that part of it. **Moderator Warnings** Political potshots are not permitted in General Questions, as you both should know. This is an official warning to both of you. Do not do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/13 "2018-04-18T15:18:47Z")
based on my link above the press room seats 49 people. I’m guessing a lot more places would like a spot in the room. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/14 "2018-04-18T17:00:06Z")
You specifically asked about White House press conferences. I’ll note that the president has given only one solo press conference himself since he took office, so you must be talking about the briefings given by the press secretary. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/15 "2018-04-18T17:26:23Z")
> [@Uniqueorn](#): > > Is there any kind of penalty for acting disrespectfully (laughing, leaving the room, shouting “liar”) during WH press conferences, other than possibly being told not to attend any future ones? Need answer fast? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/16 "2018-04-18T20:32:43Z")
The president (or whoever is giving the presser) can call on whomever they want. If you have annoyed the White House they can freeze you out. That happened to Helen Thomas, the famously feisty UPI reporter who traditionally got to ask a question at every press conference as well as give a sign-off when the president was done. George W. Bush snubbed her and that was that. IIRC she even lost her front row seat and got relegated to a seat in the back. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/17 "2018-04-18T22:13:09Z")
If you get too disruptive, of course, they’ll escort you out of the room. That said, credentialed reporters have to go pretty far before they get the hammer dropped on them. I remember Clark Mollenhoff, a Pulitzer Prize winner from the 1960s-70s. He had a foghorn voice, and when he decided it was his turn to ask a question he shouted, **“MIS-TER PRES-I-DENT!”** until he was recognized. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/18 "2018-04-18T22:21:09Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > George W. Bush snubbed her and that was that. IIRC she even lost her front row seat and got relegated to a seat in the back. May possibly have been related to her pronouncement that W was the worst president in American history. Not sure if she said that while he was still in office. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/19 "2018-04-18T22:54:43Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > The president (or whoever is giving the presser) can call on whomever they want. If you have annoyed the White House they can freeze you out. That happened to Helen Thomas, the famously feisty UPI reporter who traditionally got to ask a question at every press conference as well as give a sign-off when the president was done. George W. Bush snubbed her and that was that. IIRC she even lost her front row seat and got relegated to a seat in the back. From what I recall she got to ask the first question every time before she got snubbed. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624/20 "2018-04-18T23:19:04Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > True, but that’s the limit of it; there’s no such thing as “contempt of president”, for instance. Not true. I’ve had it for months now, even more than from 2000-2008. But there is no such ‘crime’ as “contempt of President”, so far. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-disrespectful-during-white-house-press-conferences/812624.md?page=2)