The White House told an Idaho newspaper its reporter could cover first daughter Ivanka Trump’s visit to a local school — but could not ask her any questions.
The Idaho Statesman said the White House contacted them Monday about Ivanka, an adviser to her father, President Trump, with an office in the West Wing, about her plans to visit an elementary school with Apple CEO Tim Cook on Tuesday to promote STEM education.
There were conditions: It could only send one reporter and one photographer and they would not be allowed to ask Ivanka or Cook any questions.
The only other news outlet attending was a national crew from ABC.
As word got out about the impending visit, more media inquired about covering the event.
The Statesman said it asked the White House to allow more reporters in, without success.
Other media were held at a staging area across the street from the school.
After Ivanka and Cook completed their one-hour tour of the elementary school, the Statesman’s reporter and photographer were shown the door and Ivanka sat down for an interview with the ABC crew.
Jeff Dillon, superintendent of the Wilder School District, told the newspaper, “The ABC thing was Ivanka’s thing.”
He also dismissed the notion that the absence of most media turned the event into nothing more than a glorified photo op for the president’s daughter.
“I don’t think it was just a flat-out photo op but that it really, truly was a visit to see innovation in action,” he said.
Ivanka has been at the center of a controversy over her use of a private account to send hundreds of emails about White House business.




