Argentina Restricts Journalists' Access to Presidential Palace

The government of Argentina restricted access to the presidential palace, known as the Casa Rosada, for accredited journalists on April 23, 2026. Journalists arrived at the building and found they could not enter using the usual fingerprint scanning system.

This action followed a complaint about alleged illegal espionage inside the palace. He explained that the decision responded to a complaint from the Military Household regarding espionage. Lanari emphasized that the objective was to guarantee national security and that press accreditations had not been revoked.

The restriction stemmed from an event where two journalists from the Argentine channel TN were accused of secretly filming inside the Casa Rosada. After their report aired, the administration accused them of endangering government security by showing off-limits areas.

President Javier Milei posted on X, referring to the journalists as “repugnant trash” and challenging other media members to defend their actions. ” In one post, he stated that journalists are not above the law and had abused legal precedent. These statements were made on April 23, 2026.

This incident is part of a series of policy changes under Milei's administration since he took office in 2023. Last year, the government limited entry to certain rooms in the Casa Rosada and designated other areas as off-limits. Reporters Without Borders has reported a sharp decline in press freedom in Argentina since 2023.

PEN International has noted a deterioration in free-speech rights, citing legislation that restricted public access to government documents, the dismantling of public media, and the introduction of a mute button during news conferences. These changes have been described by the organizations as contributing to tighter restrictions on journalism.

The access restriction has prompted responses from various parties. A lawmaker stated that the Casa Rosada is not private property and that prohibiting journalists from entering limits freedom of expression. The lawmaker added that officials do not have the authority to decide press access to the building.