White House Takes Control of Press Pool, Sparking Controversy
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announces new press pool rules, raising concerns over press freedom and First Amendment rights amid ongoing AP access litigation.
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This move tears at the independence of a free press in the United States.
In Latest Attack on Media, Trump White House Takes Control of Press Pool
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The changes, announced by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Tuesday, mean the White House will determine which outlets participate in the "pool" that covers presidential events and shares material with other media outlets.
White House takes control of press pool that covers Trump
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Leavitt asserted that the WHCA should no longer have a monopoly of press access at the White House and that legacy media outlets who have been here for years will still participate in the pool, but new voices are going to be welcomed in as well.
White House says it will decide which news outlets cover Trump
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This development followed the White House announcement last week that it was removing the Associated Press wire service from pool coverage and close access to the president.
White House will choose journalists who have access to Trump in press pool
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This move does not give the power back to the people — it gives power to the White House.
Outrage erupts after Karoline Leavitt says White House will take over press pool invites
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This move does not give the power back to the people – it gives power to the White House.
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The change sets aside decades of historical deference to the White House Correspondents’ Association, but it’s unclear to what extent the move actually will change the mix of reporters given close access to Trump.
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The White House said Tuesday that its officials “will decide” which news outlets can regularly cover President Donald Trump up close — a sharp break from a century of tradition in which a pool of independently chosen news organizations go where the chief executive does and hold him accountable on behalf of regular Americans.
WATCH: White House says Trump administration will choose which news organizations get access
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The change said one expert on presidents and the press, “is a dangerous move for democracy.”
White House says it ‘will determine’ which news outlets cover Trump, rotating traditional ones
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The move suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president.
White House strikes back at AP, takes over press pool coverage from reporter group
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The White House press team, rather than the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), will determine which media outlets get to participate in its press pool, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Feb. 25.
White House Says Its Team, Not Reporter Group, Will Determine Press Pool Access
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The move came after the judge in the AP case, U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden, questioned the WHCA's authority over the press pool during a Monday hearing.
White House says it will control press access to Trump, not reporters
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White House says it 'will determine' which news outlets cover Trump, rotating traditional ones
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Summary
The White House has announced it will now control which news outlets comprise the press pool for covering President Trump, a role historically held by the White House Correspondents' Association. This controversial move, described by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt as modernization and inclusivity, has raised significant alarms regarding First Amendment rights and media independence. The change comes amid ongoing litigation between the Associated Press and the White House after the AP was blocked from access due to its refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico. Critics argue this shift undermines press freedom, adding that it enhances the White House’s influence over media coverage.
Perspectives
The Trump administration's decision to control White House press access represents a significant shift from longstanding practices and raises concerns about First Amendment rights and press independence.
The White House asserts that the new system will be more inclusive, providing opportunities for a diverse range of media outlets to participate in the press pool yet critics believe it undermines the idea of a free press.
The change comes amidst a lawsuit by the Associated Press over access restrictions, highlighting tensions between the government and media regarding coverage and representation.
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