The White House briefing room, a space where journalists gather daily to ask questions, may soon look different under the incoming Trump administration. Karoline Leavitt, President-elect Trump’s pick for press secretary, suggested this week that the briefing room could be restructured.
Leavitt said the Trump administration has possible plans to make room for more nontraditional media voices, such as podcasters, influencers and internet personalities. She argued the room should reflect the media habits of Americans in 2024, not the 1980s.
“President Trump won this election by utilizing nontraditional, non-legacy media voices outside of the Beltway,” Leavitt told Fox News. “That is clearly who the American people are listening to and digesting their news. I think it would be irresponsible of us not to include some of those voices in the media room.”
The suggestion has sparked pushback from some members of the White House press corps. One anonymous reporter told The Hill that the move could create chaos.
“It would be a total mess. I would expect people would probably boycott the briefings, though that would put certain outlets in a tough spot,” the reporter said.
Traditionally, the briefing room has been reserved for major networks. Typically, mainstream media, NBC, CBS, ABC, and Fox, along with wire services like The Associated Press, Reuters and CNN have front-row seats. The New York Times, The Washington Post and NPR, are typically seated in the second row.
The White House communications office determines which reporters are granted credentials to attend briefings.
Leavitt, who would oversee the press briefings, is not the only one hinting at a shakeup.
Donald Trump Jr., the president-elect’s son, suggested the makeup of journalists allowed into the White House could change as well.
“We’ve had the conversation about opening up the press room to independent journalists,” Trump Jr. said during a “Triggered” podcast episode. “If The New York Times has lied, they’re the functioning arm of the Democratic Party. Why not open it up to people with larger viewerships? We’ve had that conversation, they said great idea, Don, and so that may be in the works. That’s going to blow up some heads, so we’ll see.”
