Club urges Saudi government to allow reporter to cover Obama visit

The National Press Club is urging the government of Saudi Arabia to grant a visa to the Washington bureau chief of the Jerusalem Post so he can cover President Obama's visit to Saudi Arabia this week.

The journalist, Michael Wilner, is reportedly the only member of the press corps seeking to cover the president's visit who has been denied a visa for it. The White House Correspondents Association and a spokeswoman for the White House have criticized the Saudi decision.

"We regret that a member of the White House press corps has been denied access to Saudi Arabia to cover the activities of President Obama during his trip," said Myron Belkind, president of the National Press Club. "We join our colleagues at the White House Correspondents Association in calling for Saudi Arabia to provide access for this reporter."

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists with more than 3,000 members worldwide.