Pence Plans to Ask Trump Campaign About Lifting Media Blacklist

Vice presidential candidate Mike Pence said during a Friday radio discussion with Hugh Hewitt that he’s holding discussions to do away with Donald Trump‘s campaign blacklist on news outlets.

Trump has a rough relationship with many in the media due to his perception of unfair coverage, and his campaign actively shuts reporters from Politico, Washington Post, and other organizations out of his events. Pence sat down with Hewitt this morning, where the radio host pointed out that suppressing the press is “not in the American tradition.”

“Will you argue with him to lift that ban, because reporters are part of the game,” Hewitt asked. “We shouldn’t ban, Republicans should not be afraid of reporters.”

Pence defended his relationship with the media, and said his legislative contributions to protect reporter-source confidentiality is proof that he believes in a free press. Hewitt noted that the ban is seen by many as an “unnecessary diversion,” but Pence insisted he was looking into it.

“I fully expect in the next 100 days, we’re going to continue to be available to the media, whether they’re fair or unfair, and we’re going to take our case to the American people directly.”

Listen to the interview (the relevant part starts at 10:50) here, via The Hugh Hewitt Show.

[Image via screengrab]

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