A reporter from Russia’s state-owned news agency TASS managed to enter the Oval Office during President Donald Trump’s meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, despite not being authorized. The White House later confirmed that the journalist was not on the approved press list and was escorted out once discovered.

This incident follows the White House’s recent decision to take control of the press pool selection from the White House Correspondents’ Association. The change was presented as a move toward greater press access, but critics argue it raises concerns about media transparency and security breaches.

Notably, while the TASS reporter gained entry, major US news agencies like AP and Reuters were denied access. AP has even filed a lawsuit against the administration over restricted access.

This is not the first controversy involving TASS and the Trump administration. In 2017, a TASS photographer was granted exclusive access to a meeting between Trump and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, while US media were barred. The latest security lapse has sparked further scrutiny over press access policies and potential foreign influence within the White House.