White House Overhauls Press Access, Shifts Selection to Administration

The Trump administration ends decades of journalist-led press pool management, granting access to government-chosen media outlets.

The White House announced that its communications team will now select journalists for the press pool, replacing the longstanding system managed by the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA).
Karoline Leavitt, the White House Press Secretary, claimed the changes aim to expand access to 'hundreds' of new media outlets while maintaining participation for traditional media.
Critics, including the WHCA, argue the move undermines press independence, allowing the administration to favor pro-Trump outlets and exclude dissenting voices.
The Associated Press (AP), a historic member of the press pool, has been barred over its refusal to adopt a Trump-mandated renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of America.'
Pro-Trump podcasters, influencers, and media figures have been given increased access, with some posing questions that align with the administration's messaging.