**New rules shift power dynamics, allowing the White House to dictate which outlets cover presidential events**
**White House Seizes Control of Trump Press Pool, Alters Access Rules**
**White House Seizes Control of Trump Press Pool, Alters Access Rules**
**Change aims to diversify media representation while sparking concern over press freedom**
The White House has announced a significant shift in how the press pool covering President Donald Trump will be managed, stating that the administration will now select which news organizations participate in the pool, thereby taking control from the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA). This change, revealed by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, marks the first time in over a century that the White House has altered this traditional arrangement.
Leavitt described the new system, which will prioritize both "legacy media" and emerging outlets such as streaming services and podcasts, as a way to empower different voices in the media landscape. "By deciding which outlets make up the limited press pool, the White House will be restoring power back to the American people," she asserted during a press briefing.
Historically, the WHCA has managed the logistics of the press pool, which includes a variety of news outlets that report on presidential events and share information with others in the media. The association expressed grave concerns regarding the White House's decision, arguing that it undermines the independence of the press and could favor outlets perceived as sympathetic to the administration.
Fox News reporter and WHCA board member Jacqui Heinrich emphasized that the changes could lead to the White House selectively choosing journalists, asserting that it does not represent a return of power to the public but instead centralizes control within the administration. The WHCA noted that they were not informed in advance of these changes.
In a related incident, the Associated Press (AP) is currently contesting its restricted access to presidential events following a disagreement with Trump over terminologies used in reporting. A judge recently denied the AP's request to restore its access in the wake of a dispute regarding the "Gulf of America," a term Trump introduced through an executive order. The AP has interpreted the restrictions as retaliatory, claiming they violate First Amendment rights, with a hearing scheduled for March 20 to address the matter.
