The Trump administration is breaking up the media’s monopoly on presidential coverage, shifting control over the White House press pool away from the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) and putting the decision in the hands of the administration itself.

For years, a select group of Washington-based journalists have dictated who gets to ask questions in exclusive settings such as the Oval Office and Air Force One. That power structure is now changing. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Tuesday that the administration will directly determine which journalists get access to these spaces, ensuring that perspectives beyond those of mainstream media are included.

A group of DC-based journalists, the White House Correspondents' Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the President of the United States.

Not anymore.

Today, I was proud to announce that we are giving the power back to the people.

Moving… pic.twitter.com/PkNui6Qleu

— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 25, 2025

Members of the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA) erupt into laughter when asked about far left wing violent attacks on Trump supporters.

pic.twitter.com/hNXXajznEi

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) February 25, 2025

This decision follows a legal battle between the White House and the Associated Press, which sued after being denied special access due to its refusal to recognize the official renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. A federal judge ruled against the AP, affirming the administration’s right to set its own press access rules.

Here's why this is earth-shattering news: Former White House Correspondent @ChanelRion did a video exposing how the WHCA illegally infiltrated the White House and operates like a criminal cartel.pic.twitter.com/C8U5nSftOF

— George (@BehizyTweets) February 25, 2025

Leavitt emphasized that this change will not block traditional media outlets from covering the White House, but it will ensure that a wider range of news organizations can participate. “Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team,” she said, explaining that major television networks will still have regular access while new media outlets will also have opportunities.

Membership in the White House Correspondents Assoc is determined by a 9 member board from:

MSNBC, CBS, Politico, Bloomberg News, Getty, Fox, Reuters, BBC, and ABC News.

The approval process is closed door & entirely secretive.

The Trump WH is right to break up the cartel.

— Jordan Schachtel (@JordanSchachtel) February 25, 2025

The Associated Press and other legacy media outlets are already framing the decision as an attack on press freedom, but the administration argues that it is simply leveling the playing field. The move ensures that the American people hear from more than just the same voices that have controlled the narrative for decades.

This is the President of the "non-partisan" White House Correspondents Association. Always nice to grab a manicure before going on MSNBC to bash Trump. pic.twitter.com/PyQlRh1IH0

— MAZE (@mazemoore) February 26, 2025

This shift is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to challenge the dominance of corporate media in shaping the White House narrative. The WHCA, which has long been dominated by left-leaning news organizations, has fought to maintain its exclusive grip on access, but the administration is now opening the door to a more diverse range of perspectives.