White House Plans to Control Press Briefing Room Seating

The Trump administration is looking to take over control of seating assignments in the White House press briefing room, a responsibility currently held by the independent White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA). A senior official confirmed the plan, though details remain unclear. The move is seen as part of a broader strategy to reshape media access.

Pushback and Concerns

The WHCA, made up of elected journalists, may resist the change. One correspondent said, “where people sit doesn’t really matter. But it does matter when the White House attempts to take control away from an elected group in order to influence what questions are asked and how stories are covered.” Eugene Daniels, WHCA president, declined to comment, though the group is reportedly considering its response.

Pro-Trump Media Gains Ground

Trump supporters praised the idea. Former press secretary Sean Spicer posted, “Yes to this – keep it going @PressSec.” The White House has recently invited more pro-Trump and lesser-known outlets into the room. At one briefing, Trump responded to a flattering question with, “I love this guy.” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has also promoted “new media” by giving seats to podcasters and online commentators.

A Pattern of Control

Since Trump returned to office, the WHCA has faced increasing pressure. The administration has removed established outlets like the Associated Press from events and taken over the press pool selection process. Past disruptions, like a forced seat swap involving CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, show this is part of a broader trend. As Jonathan Karl, a former WHCA president, put it, “we will challenge any effort to pick and choose what outlets are there or the manner in which they are in there.”