White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt argued that new modifications to the presidential press pool expand media access rather than limit it, defending the changes against criticism from press freedom advocates.
Leavitt addressed concerns from the White House Correspondents Association during remarks with Axios co-founder Mike Allen, contending that the revised system creates opportunities for a wider range of news organizations and journalists to cover the president.
What Leavitt Said
“We view them as opening access to more outlets, more voices, more news, journalists and outlets,” Leavitt said when asked about modifications to the briefing room arrangement. She emphasized that thousands of outlets hold White House press credentials, with hundreds covering the beat on a daily basis.
Leavitt questioned why a single outlet should retain a position in the 13-person press pool that covers the president every day. “There should be equal access for all outlets,” she said. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
The press secretary rejected the White House Correspondents Association’s assertion that government should not control independent media coverage. She stated that board members of the association should not dictate media access to the Oval Office or Air Force One.
Biden’s Media Record
Leavitt referenced a comparison between the current administration’s media engagement and former President Joe Biden’s record. According to Axios reporting from July, Biden held fewer press conferences and media interviews than any of the last seven presidents at the same point in their term.
Biden conducted 164 media engagements compared to 468 under President Trump at equivalent points in their presidencies. George W. Bush recorded 248 engagements and Ronald Reagan 262, making Biden the lowest among recent administrations.
The Administration’s Rationale
Leavitt concluded that the White House is adapting to changes in the digital media landscape. “The president ran a nontraditional media campaign, which propelled him back to the highest office in the land,” she said. “We felt it was our responsibility to continue that in our coverage at the White House.”