President Donald J. Trump‘s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, announced at Tuesday’s press briefing that the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) will no longer determine what media outlets will comprise the White House press pool. In the past, the WHCA has held a monopoly on White House media access—though President Trump has moved swiftly to end that control by initially inviting independent and alternative media outlets—like podcasters—to attend press briefings and travel pools for senior officials and cabinet members.
“The President and this entire White House are committed to ensuring the American people continue to receive this same level of historic transparency, access, and visibility,” Leavitt stated at Tuesday’s White House press briefing before continuing: “As you all know, for decades, a group of D.C..-based journalists, the White House Correspondents’ Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the President of the United States in these most intimate spaces. Not anymore.”
“I am proud to announce that we are going to give the power back to the people who read your papers, who watch television shows and listen to your radio stations. Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team,” the White House press secretary said, adding: “Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join, fear not, but we will also be offering the privilege to well deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility.”
The WHCA—which turned 111 years old on Tuesday—has long controlled which media outlets have access to the President of the United States and senior White House officials. This has led to an environment in which independent media has been frozen out of these traditional avenues of access in favor of corporate and legacy media organizations.
WATCH:
#BREAKING: @PressSec @KarolineLeavitt announces the abolishment of allowing the White House Correspondents Association (@WHCA) to determine who makes up the White House press pool…
“The President and this entire White House are committed to ensuring the American people… pic.twitter.com/cBume5S4yJ
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 25, 2025