White House Sparks Outrage with New Order Controlling Press Access to Trump
(Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
A new White House order granting the Trump administration control over which media outlets can cover the president has drawn sharp criticism from journalists, with the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) condemning the move as a threat to press freedom.
The policy, announced Tuesday by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, states that Trump’s press team will now determine which outlets can participate in the White House press pool. This marks a significant departure from the long-standing practice of nonpartisan access to presidential coverage.
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“Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join – but we will also be offering the privilege to well-deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility,” Leavitt said. She framed the decision as a way of “giving the power back to the people,” but journalists and press freedom advocates pushed back, warning that it undermines the principles of an independent press.
“This is an important and deeply concerning break from a century of practice designed to serve the American people with journalistic independence from the government,” NBC News White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell wrote on X. “I believe in the WHCA. Show your support for a free press.”
O’Donnell’s concerns were echoed by WHCA President Eugene Daniels, a journalist for Politico, who issued a forceful statement rejecting the new policy. “This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States,” Daniels said. “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 also noted that the White House provided no warning about the policy change and did not consult the WHCA before making the announcement.
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“But the WHCA will never stop advocating for comprehensive access, full transparency, and the right of the American public to read, listen to, and watch reports from the White House, delivered without fear or favor,” he stated.
The decision has raised fears that the administration could use press access as a tool to favor supportive outlets while sidelining critical voices. As media organizations weigh potential legal and advocacy responses, the future of White House press access remains uncertain.
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