Trump Administration Takes Over White House Press Pool Assignments

The White House replaces traditional media outlets with pro-Trump organizations, raising concerns about press freedom and independence.

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.