Reporters from the Russian state media outlet were launched from the White House on Friday before a high-stakes meeting with President Trump and Ukrainian President Voldymir Zelensky.
A reporter for TASS, one of Russia's top propaganda outlets, was not on the pre-approved pool list, but somehow made its way into the oval office for Trump Zelensky's showdown with journalists from Bloomberg, CNN, Reuters, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and other outlets.
“Tass was not on the approved list of media at Pool today,” a White House official said in a statement. “As soon as he caught the attention of the press staff that he was in an oval, he was escorted by a spokesman. He was not on the approved list for the press conference.”
The White House did not explain how Russian intruders could access the oval office.
CNBC has identified the reporter as Dmitry Kirsanoff, director of Tass.
According to the outlet, Kirsanov appeared to have approached an agent for the Secret Service during Trump's remarks and moved him to leave the room when Trump made his remarks.
The intruder was immediately escorted from the West Wing.
But Kirsanoff was long enough for the room Snap photo Of the fiery meeting between Trump and Zelensky, the propaganda outlet believes in him.
Tass did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the post.
The incident comes the same week as White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt controls the White House Correspondent Association's traditions over which journalists are assigned for pool duties.
On Tuesday, Leavitt declared that the Trump administration will be in charge of determining which reporters can cover the president most closely, and that the move is a transition to media access.
