White House Restructures Press Pool Access, Prompting Comparisons to Putin-Era Media Control

The Trump administration's decision to take control of press pool access has drawn criticism from journalists, with some likening it to early Kremlin tactics while others note key differences.

The White House announced it will now determine which reporters have access to the press pool, ending the longstanding role of the White House Correspondents’ Association in this process.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move as a step toward democratizing media access, emphasizing that legacy outlets would not be excluded but that decisions will rest with the administration.
New York Times journalist Peter Baker criticized the decision, drawing parallels to early actions by Vladimir Putin to suppress press freedom in Russia, though he acknowledged the U.S. retains an independent judiciary.
The decision follows recent tensions, including the barring of Associated Press journalists who refused to use the administration's preferred term for the Gulf of Mexico, now called the 'Gulf of America.'
Critics argue that the policy could deter tough questioning and create a chilling effect on media freedom, while the administration insists it ensures fairer access for all reporters.