Trump declares new authority over press pool access

The Trump administration announced on Tuesday that it will determine which journalists participate in the White House press pool.

This announcement, made by press secretary Karoline Leavitt, breaks with the established practice in which the independent White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) oversees the rotating group of news outlets covering the president in Washington and during official travels.

This move marks an unprecedented effort by the government to manage press access to the president, drawing criticism from journalists and media advocates who argue that such control undermines the foundations of a free press.

“We’re going to be calling those shots,” Trump declared from the Oval Office, emphasizing the administration's newfound authority over press representation.

For decades, the WHCA, comprising hundreds of journalists from various media outlets, has facilitated access to the president to ensure accurate reporting for the American public. The association typically organizes a rotating pool of reporters who share coverage with all its members.

However, WHCA President Eugene Daniels expressed disapproval of the administration's decision, stating, “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 must not be able to choose their own press corps.”

Daniels noted that the White House did not inform the WHCA in advance of this significant change, which he argued represents “a drastic change in how the public obtains information about its government.”

Bruce D. Brown, president of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, added, “The White House press pool exists to serve the public, not the presidency.”

While Leavitt did not indicate that current participating outlets would be removed from the pool, she mentioned that the administration would add new outlets and select pool participants on a “day-to-day basis.”

This announcement follows a recent incident where the Trump administration barred Associated Press (AP) journalists from official events due to the wire service's refusal to adopt the name “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico, as mandated by Trump. The WHCA subsequently filed a motion to support the AP in its ongoing legal battle for reinstated access.

In a display of triumph, Leavitt highlighted a recent federal ruling against the AP’s request to have its access restored while standing before screens displaying an image of the Gulf labeled “Gulf of America,” marked with the word “VICTORY.” When questioned about the press pool decision later, Trump criticized the AP, referring to it as “terrible” and labeling it as “radical left.”

The traditional press pool has included representatives from various wire services, television networks, and major print outlets, ensuring a diverse coverage of the president's activities. However, the logistics of the administration's new press pool structure remain unclear, particularly whether there will be a more extensive division of slots among a larger number of outlets.

Concerns have emerged regarding the administration's intent to selectively exclude outlets that produce unfavorable coverage.

Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent for The New York Times, drew parallels between the current situation and past instances of media control in authoritarian regimes, stating, “This reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access.”

Having served as a Moscow correspondent in the early days of Putin's reign, this reminds me of how the Kremlin took over its own press pool and made sure that only compliant journalists were given access.

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) February 25, 2025

Similarly, New Yorker staff writer Susan Glasser remarked on social media, “Trump White House on the way to establishing its own version of a Kremlin press pool, approved media only…”

Trump White House on the way to establishing its own version of a Kremlin press pool, approved media only… https://t.co/rL1Mt5LA9j

— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) February 25, 2025

In contrast, Leavitt characterized the decision as an expansion of press access rather than a means of control, claiming that Washington journalists have held a “monopoly” on access to the White House. She asserted that the Trump administration aims to provide opportunities for a broader range of media outlets to cover the president’s achievements. “We want more outlets and new outlets to have a chance to take part in the press pool,” she said.

Critics, including Ron Fournier, a former Washington bureau chief for the AP, challenged this narrative, arguing that the administration's true motive is to create a press corps that is exclusively pro-Trump. Fournier warned of the implications this decision could have for information access, emphasizing, “For the first time in the nation’s history, the White House [could] decide who covers the president up close. And that’s not good for anybody.”

Thoughts on White House seizing control of pool coverage:

1. Next step on the slippery slope is to control who has access to video and audio of presidential events. U.S. military records and distributes audio/video feeds now. Trump could break precedent and limit distribution 1/

— Ron Fournier (@ron_fournier) February 25, 2025

As the implications of this change unfold, many observers are raising alarms about the future of press freedom and transparency in the Trump administration.