21 hours ago
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The White House correspondent known for wearing provocative attire to Trump administration press briefings has been denied membership to one of Washington, DC’s most prestigious social clubs for journalists.
The National Press Club, the century-old association where reporters and other media professionals hear from senior government officials, has turned down a membership application from Natalie Winters, the 24-year-old White House correspondent and co-host of Steve Bannon’s “War Room: Battleground” podcast.
Winters took to her social media page on X and posted a screenshot of an email that she received from the National Press Club recently.
“Dear Natalie,” the email read. “Thank you for applying for membership at the National Press Club.”
“Our membership committee and Board of Governors reviewed your application. Unfortunately, you do not meet the qualifications for membership at this time,” Winters was told in the email.
“Thank you for your interest in the National Press Club.”
Winters wrote on X that she was denied despite being “host of one of the largest shows on the right” and having had her work cited by elected officials including President Trump.
“The National Press Club should formally change their name to the National Propaganda Club,” Winters told The Post in a statement.
“This is a great example of the discrimination that’s led to the irrelevance of many of the outlets they let in.”
Winters said that the club “could have used my membership dues” in light of “the mass firings and ratings collapse of legacy media.”
The Post has sought comment from the National Press Club.
Journalists who are granted admission into the National Press Club pay dues totaling $704 annually — or $59 monthly.
Younger journalists between the ages of 21 and 35 are offered a discounted tier that enables them to pay $34 per month — or $400 annually.
Winters, a Los Angeles native and graduate of the University of Chicago, is a fixture on Bannon’s podcast, which is said to generate an audience of millions of listeners.
Bannon, a former White House adviser to Trump and a stalwart supporter of the MAGA agenda, continues to hold sway in the right-wing populist movement that catapulted the president to power.
Days after Trump’s inauguration, Winters drew attention for wearing outfits considered more revealing than usual while on assignment at White House press briefings.
On her first day at the briefing room, Winters turned heads by wearing a form-fitting dress and high heels.
The images of Winters in her outfit quickly went viral and sparked a discussion online — with critics admonishing her for her choice of dress.
But Winters defiantly rejected the naysayers, telling The Post: “I won’t bend the knee to cultural forces that want men to act like women or women to act like men.”
She added: “Sorry I’ll be wearing skirts and dresses like biological women should and not frumpy, ill-fitting pantsuits like most of DC. So enjoy covering my legs for the next four years!”
English (US)