NEW YORK (AP) — President Trump says he directed White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders not to bother with the traditional briefing of reporters anymore.
The last briefing took place on Dec. 18.
In a tweet, the president said Tuesday that most of the press corps "will never cover us fairly."
The afternoon briefing has been a staple of cable news schedules the past few administrations and the sight of Sanders' predecessor Sean Spicer at the podium was an enduring image of the early Trump administration.
The White House Correspondents Association called the decision a retreat from transparency and accountability that sets a terrible precedent.
The reason Sarah Sanders does not go to the “podium” much anymore is that the press covers her so rudely & inaccurately, in particular certain members of the press. I told her not to bother, the word gets out anyway! Most will never cover us fairly & hence, the term, Fake News!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 22, 2019