Trump Administration Seizes Control of White House Press Pool Selection

The White House Correspondents' Association condemns the move as a threat to press freedom, as longstanding media protocols are overturned.

For over a century, the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) managed the press pool that covered the U.S. president, ensuring diverse and independent representation.
The Trump administration has announced that it will now determine which journalists gain access to key presidential events, bypassing the WHCA's role.
Critics, including the WHCA and media organizations, argue the decision undermines press freedom and allows the administration to favor supportive outlets while excluding critical voices.
The Associated Press (AP) has been barred from the press pool following a dispute over its refusal to adopt the administration's preferred terminology for the Gulf of Mexico.
The administration claims the changes aim to democratize access by including local and nontraditional outlets, though many of these are linked to pro-Trump or conservative media networks.