Trump Administration Restructures Media Access, Reducing Legacy Media’s Exclusive Coverage [WATCH]

The Trump administration has taken another step in reshaping media access at the White House, removing the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) from its long-standing role in determining which journalists gain access to the presidential press pool.

The decision follows a legal battle between the Associated Press (AP) and the administration over press pool access.

The issue gained attention when the Associated Press (AP) was excluded from the White House press pool due to its refusal to adopt the administration’s new terminology, referring to the body of water bordering

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Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida as “The Gulf of America” instead of its traditional name, “The Gulf of Mexico.”

The AP did not have its press credentials revoked nor was its access to White House briefings restricted, but the outlet, with support from the WHCA, sued the administration for access to the smaller press pool.

On Monday, District Judge Trevor McFadden ruled in favor of the White House, upholding its authority to decide which media outlets receive press pool access.

However, the case is not fully settled, as the judge scheduled a March 20 hearing on a preliminary injunction to further review the matter.

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In his ruling, McFadden noted that AP’s delay in filing the lawsuit weakened its claim, saying there was no indication of a “dire situation” or “irreparable harm” being done to the news organization.

Following the ruling, the White House released a statement reaffirming its position on press access, saying, “As we have said from the beginning, asking the President of the United States questions in the Oval Office and aboard Air Force One is a privilege granted to journalists, not a legal right.”

On Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced an even bigger shakeup—the WHCA would no longer control who is allowed in the presidential press pool.

@PressSec announces changes to the “press pool” that covers President Trump:

“For decades, a group of D.C.-based journalists — the @WHCA — has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of @POTUS in these most intimate spaces. Not anymore.” pic.twitter.com/fHd5Wkm3nE

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 25, 2025

This decision ends a system in place since 1914, when the WHCA was first established to manage media access to the president.

The WHCA has traditionally overseen which reporters and media organizations receive access to smaller presidential events, the Oval Office, and Air Force One.

Critics have long argued that the organization favors mainstream and left-leaning outlets while limiting access to conservative and independent media.

The current leadership of the WHCA includes:

• President: Eugene Daniels (Politico)
• Vice President: Weijia Jiang (CBS News)
• Secretary: Sara Cook (CBS News)
• Treasurer: Justin Sink (Bloomberg)

While Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich was recently added to the board, conservative voices have largely been underrepresented in the group that determines access.

Following the White House’s announcement, the WHCA strongly objected, saying it was not given prior notice and arguing that the decision “tears at the independence of a free press in the United States.”

WHCA statement on WH announcement:

“This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States. 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.

“For… https://t.co/7Usa5GYniT

— Jacqui Heinrich (@JacquiHeinrich) February 25, 2025

While the WHCA is protesting the Trump administration’s decision, the organization remained silent in August 2023, when the Biden White House revoked press passes from 442 reporters, effectively removing nearly one-third of the press corps.

At the time, there was little public outcry from the WHCA about the move.

The White House’s latest action signals a major shift in how press access is managed, moving away from an insider-controlled system and placing the decision directly in the hands of the administration.

The changes appear to be part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge the media establishment’s grip on Washington.

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