Overview

• The Trump administration has removed the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) from controlling press pool assignments, a role it has held for decades.
• Pro-Trump outlets like Newsmax and Blaze Media were added to the press pool, while legacy outlets such as Reuters and HuffPost were excluded from recent rotations.
• The Associated Press, Reuters, and Bloomberg issued a joint statement condemning the changes, citing threats to press freedom and the public’s access to independent reporting.
• Critics, including WHCA leadership and journalists, warn that the move undermines journalistic independence by allowing the administration to handpick favorable reporters.
• The White House claims the changes are intended to diversify access to press opportunities, though many view the shift as punitive toward critical media outlets.