After pledging to protect press freedoms throughout his nearly two years in office, Republican South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden found himself standing in front of reporters Friday with President Donald Trump as the president defended a decision to ban three news organizations from the White House.
Rhoden was in the Oval Office for an unrelated reason: to talk about Trump administration efforts to save money on prescription drugs in the federal-state Medicaid health insurance program for people with low incomes.
Earlier that day, Trump announced on social media that he was banning CNN, Politico and MS Now from the White House. Reporters asked Trump about that decision when Trump, Rhoden and several other officials — who were standing behind Trump as he sat at his desk — finished speaking about the prescription drug program.
Trump responded by alleging that the news organizations report “fake news,” and he expanded at length on those allegations. The three news organizations have since sued to regain their access.
South Dakota Searchlight asked Rhoden’s office Monday for the governor’s reaction to Trump’s actions and comments. Rhoden’s office sent a written statement that said “the president can make his own decisions.”
“I’ve built a strong relationship with all of you by being open and responsive, and you’ve lived up to my trust,” Rhoden said in the statement, referencing journalists in South Dakota. “You’ve shown me a tremendous deal of respect, and I am grateful for the role you play in helping us serve the people of South Dakota.”
Searchlight then asked if Rhoden was implying his office would not be open and responsive to journalists who haven’t “lived up” to the governor’s trust.
Rhoden’s spokesperson, Josie Harms, responded.
“That implication is inaccurate,” Harms wrote. “Openness and responsiveness will continue to remain pillars of the Rhoden administration — the governor is simply acknowledging his respect and gratefulness for your reciprocation of that commitment.”
The governor’s initial statement also said it was “ironic” that the president “was being criticized for being against free speech while Trump was actively taking questions from dozens of media.”
Searchlight asked if the governor recognized that three news organizations were losing their access to ask questions of Trump. Harms replied, “As the governor said, ‘The president can make his own decisions.’”
Rhoden’s past comments on open government
Since becoming governor in January 2025, Rhoden has repeatedly emphasized government transparency and has made improving relations with the press one of his stated goals.
In a 2025 column he sent to media outlets titled “Protecting Our Free Press,” Rhoden wrote that “tough, investigative reporting can lead to much-needed policy reforms.”
“I’m committed to making my administration the most transparent in our state’s history,” he wrote.
During the annual NewsMedia Day at the state Capitol earlier this year, Rhoden responded to questions from reporters about open government.
“We’ll always do our best to respond to your questions, and you might not always like the answers you get, but you’ll always get a response of some kind,” Rhoden said.
Rhoden’s opponent in the Nov. 3 election is Democratic nominee Dan Ahlers, a former legislator from Dell Rapids. Ahlers said Trump’s strategy since becoming president the first time has been to criticize and belittle reporters when he doesn’t like their reporting.
“I don’t hold a grudge against the press,” Ahlers said. “I don’t not communicate with the press when something doesn’t go my way.”
Trump suggests his face on Rushmore amid healthcare talk
Rhoden’s Friday appearance at the White House was for Trump’s announcement that all 50 states will join a program providing “Most Favored Nation” pricing to some drugs in Medicaid, with a goal of bringing the price of selected drugs down to prices paid in some other countries.
Rhoden’s office issued a press release Friday saying South Dakota has so far identified three drugs that would benefit from the program, saving the state approximately $750,000 a year. This year’s budget for Medicaid in South Dakota is about $2 billion, and the state’s share is about $715 million.
After Rhoden’s comments on the prescription drug program during the Oval Office event, Trump turned to him and made a comment about Mount Rushmore National Memorial that sparked laughter in the room.
“I’m being very nice to him,” Trump said of Rhoden, “because maybe he’ll get my face on that beautiful wall.”
Rhoden jokingly replied, “You want it on Crazy Horse?” He was referencing the other massive mountain carving in South Dakota’s Black Hills. The Crazy Horse Memorial, which has been in progress for decades, honors a late Lakota war leader.