In a significant shift from longstanding tradition, the White House announced on Tuesday that it will now directly select the media organizations permitted to participate in the presidential press pool covering President Donald Trump. This move transfers control from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which has managed press pool access for decades.
“The White House press staff will establish the White House press pool going forward,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. She underlined that the administration intends to incorporate new voices, reflecting the media consumption patterns of the American public in 2025, even though conventional media sources would still have access. “A tiny number of journalists based in D.C. should no longer have a monopoly over the privilege of press access to the White House,” Leavitt continued.
This decision follows the administration’s recent exclusion of the Associated Press (AP) from the press pool. The AP was barred after it declined to adopt the term “Gulf of America,” a name President Trump assigned to the Gulf of Mexico. The AP maintained its use of the traditional name, leading to its exclusion from certain presidential events.
The WHCA criticized the White House’s move, expressing concerns about press freedom. WHCA President Eugene Daniels stated, “This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States. It suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president. In a free country, leaders … .”
President Trump defended the policy change, asserting that it allows the White House to “call the shots” regarding media access. He stated, “We’re going to be now … .”
This development has raised concerns among media experts and free speech advocates about potential First Amendment implications, as it grants the administration significant control over which journalists have access to the president. The situation continues to evolve, with legal challenges and debates over press freedom unfolding.
