In a major shift concerning White House access rules, government spokesperson Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday that the executive branch will now decide which journalists can pose questions to President Donald Trump. During a press briefing, Leavitt clarified that the White House press team will be responsible for selecting members of the press pool—a select group of journalists, photographers, and videographers who accompany the president at official events.
Previously, this responsibility resided with the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA). The new measure has sparked concerns regarding potential restrictions on press freedom under the current administration. This pool of reporters is crucial for covering presidential events as it enables media outlets to broadcast the happenings to the multitude of journalists unable to attend these activities.
"From now on, the White House press team will decide who joins the press pool," stated Leavitt in a video posted on her X account, signaling a departure from over a century of WHCA autonomy in this role. This tradition of granting a small group of journalists access to presidential events began nearly 100 years ago due to limited space in locations such as the Oval Office or Air Force One.
The WHCA, established in 1914, has historically been tasked with selecting journalists for this pool through a meticulous process. However, the White House's decision to take over this role has stirred controversy. Eugene Daniels, WHCA president, condemned the move, labeling it an assault on press freedom in the U.S. "It implies that the government will choose which journalists cover the president. In a free country, leaders should not be able to select the press team," Daniels stated in a release.
This decision emerges amid strained relations between the Trump administration and certain media outlets, particularly with the Associated Press (AP). The White House recently barred AP from the press pool, preventing them from questioning Trump because of their refusal to adopt the new term "Gulf of America" in place of the Gulf of Mexico's traditional name. AP has filed a lawsuit claiming that this restriction infringes upon the First Amendment's guarantee of press freedom, though a judge has allowed the Administration to uphold its ban while urging reconsideration.
The press pool typically consists of 13 to 14 members, though it can expand to around 20 at times. These journalists are assigned to cover various media formats, including print, radio, and television. Historically, Trump has clashed with numerous journalists who pose challenging questions. In 2018, the American television network CNN sued the Trump administration for revoking the White House press credentials of its chief correspondent, Jim Acosta, following a heated exchange with the president during a press conference.
Journalist Access Controversy: Key Questions Answered
What change has the White House made regarding journalist access?
The White House has decided that its press team will now select which journalists are allowed to ask questions to President Trump, a role previously held by the WHCA.
Why has this change caused concern?
There are worries that this change could limit press freedom and allow the government to control which journalists can cover the president, undermining the autonomy traditionally held by the WHCA.
How has the Associated Press been affected by this decision?
The Associated Press has been excluded from the White House press pool for not adopting the term "Gulf of America," leading them to file a lawsuit citing First Amendment violations.