Press Sec Leavitt Deals Death Blow To The Legacy Media, Ends Monopoly of 'DC Journalists'

The Trump administration has stripped the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) of its control over press access, giving the White House press team full authority to decide which outlets participate in press pool rotations. The move challenges long-standing media dominance in the briefing room.

Key Facts:

The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) no longer controls press pool access; the White House press team now makes the decisions.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt assured that major legacy media outlets would retain access but emphasized broader inclusion of previously excluded journalists.
The Associated Press (AP) recently sued the White House after being denied access to briefings and Air Force One, but a federal judge sided with the administration.
WHCA President Eugene Daniels criticized the decision, arguing it undermines press independence by allowing the government to select journalists.
The administration justified barring AP due to its refusal to use the term “Gulf of America” instead of “Gulf of Mexico,” calling AP’s reporting biased.

The Rest of The Story:

The Trump administration’s decision to revoke the WHCA’s authority over press access marks a significant shift in how the White House manages its relationship with the media.

Historically, the WHCA determined which news organizations were included in the press pool, giving priority to major networks and long-established outlets.

The new policy allows the administration to decide who gets access, a move officials say will diversify representation and open opportunities for smaller, independent outlets.

WATCH: The White House announced that it would take over which outlets are allowed into the press pool covering the president, wrestling such control from the White House Correspondents’ Association. https://t.co/SGowFXvLHQ pic.twitter.com/A5edoPnurj

— The Hill (@thehill) February 25, 2025

The change follows AP’s legal battle against the White House after its reporters were denied access.

A federal court upheld the administration’s right to decide on press access, reinforcing the shift away from WHCA control.

WHCA President Eugene Daniels called the policy a threat to press freedom, while White House officials argue it simply ends media gatekeeping.

Commentary:

This move has been a long time coming.

For too long, the White House Correspondents’ Association has operated as a self-appointed media elite, controlling access to the nation’s highest office while ensuring legacy media maintains its dominance.

The idea that only a select group of journalists should dictate how Americans receive their news is outdated and unfair.

The White House, not a media club, should have the final say on press access.

The mainstream media has made it clear they see their job as opposing Trump rather than reporting the news fairly.

Time and again, major outlets twist stories, ignore positive developments, and frame everything through an anti-Trump lens.

Giving new media voices access ensures a broader range of perspectives, something that has been missing in Washington for decades.

Predictably, media figures are crying about press freedom, but let’s be clear: no one is stopping them from reporting.

The First Amendment guarantees their right to publish whatever they want, but it does not entitle them to unfettered access to White House events.

The government deciding who gets into a limited space is not censorship—it’s logistics.

Trump and Leavitt deserve credit for standing up to the media establishment.

Their decision expands press diversity rather than limiting it.

For years, alternative and conservative outlets have been shut out, while biased organizations like CNN and The New York Times enjoyed privileged access.

That monopoly is finally ending.

The press will continue to play the victim, but their outrage isn’t about principles—it’s about power.

They don’t want a fair system; they want control.

This policy ensures the American people get news from more than just a handful of agenda-driven outlets.

The Bottom Line:

The Trump administration’s overhaul of White House press access weakens the long-standing media monopoly and gives a broader range of journalists the opportunity to cover the presidency.

While legacy media complains about press freedom, the reality is they are simply losing exclusive privileges.

This is a much-needed shift toward fairness in how news is reported from the White House.