White House correspondents leader, ABC's Karl says reporters too close at Rose Garden events

ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl, president of the White House Correspondents Association, on Friday accused the White House of breaking social-distancing rules during a Rose Garden event.

Karl said the White House press office “positioned seating for the president’s Rose Garden ‘news conference’ in a way that violated the federal government’s guidelines on social distancing and needlessly put reporters’ health at risk,” according to The Washington Times.

“The health of the press corps should not be put in jeopardy because the White House wants reporters to be a prop for a ‘news conference’ where the president refused to answer any questions,” continued Karl, who occasionally has sharp exchanges with the president.

White House deputy press secretary Judd Deere took responsibility for the seating arrangement.

 "It was my decision," he told Just the News. "It looks better. I would remind you that those in the (press) pool are tested, everyone is temperature checked, and asked if they have had symptoms."

Trump apparently commented on the seating arrangement.

“You’re getting closer together,” the president said, according to Karl. “I noticed you’re starting to get much closer together. It looks much better.”

Karl reportedly said the chairs were initially positioned consistent with social distancing guidelines, then moved closer by White House staffer shortly before the start of the event.