US Treasury Denies Credentials to Select Journalists for G20 Finance Meet

The US Treasury Department has barred certain journalists from covering the G20 finance ministers' meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, escalating tensions between the administration and the press.

Reporters from The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg were not granted credentials for the event, which brings together finance ministers and central bank governors from the world's largest economies. The Treasury has not provided a reason for the exclusions.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who is hosting the meeting, said the decision "has nothing to do with point of view." However, the move has drawn sharp rebukes from the affected organisations.

The New York Times called the denial a "blatant attempt to evade public scrutiny," noting that the agenda includes critical issues such as sanctions, inflation, and bond markets. Bloomberg said the decision "undermines media freedom and public accountability." The Wall Street Journal declined to comment.

Among those denied access is Alan Rappeport, a Times reporter who has covered the Treasury since 2017. Notably, another Times journalist, Berlin bureau chief Jim Tankersley, was permitted to attend.

The incident follows a broader pattern of restricted media access under the current administration. Earlier this year, the Defense Department declared its press office a classified space, barring journalists after most outlets refused to accept government-imposed restrictions on their work.

The G20 finance meeting runs through Tuesday. The leaders' summit is scheduled for December at Trump's golf club in Doral, Florida.