The White House is taking unprecedented control of press room seating arrangements, shifting power from journalists to the administration while promising to integrate digital media and influencers alongside traditional outlets.
Key Takeaways
- The White House is assuming control of the briefing room seating chart from the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA), marking a significant break from tradition.
- New seating arrangements will include digital outlets, influencers, and independent journalists alongside traditional media to reflect modern news consumption habits.
- The restructuring aims to balance “disruption with responsibility” while reducing the prominence of legacy media outlets.
- Currently, few right-leaning outlets have assigned seats in the briefing room except for Fox News, The Daily Caller, and the New York Post.
- Critics worry the move could undermine press independence by giving the administration more control over media access.
Administration Takes Control of Press Room
In a significant shift of protocol, the White House plans to implement its own seating chart for reporters in the briefing room, taking over a role traditionally managed by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA). The move represents a fundamental change in the relationship between the administration and the press corps, transferring control from journalists to government officials. This change is set to take effect in the coming weeks and has been anticipated since President Trump’s second administration began, partly due to overcrowding issues in the briefing room.
The restructuring aims to reflect modern media consumption metrics, including digital outlets, print, television, and notably, adding influencers and independent journalists to the press pool. Few right-leaning outlets currently have assigned seats, with Fox News, The Daily Caller, and the New York Post being the exceptions. The administration’s changes seek to address this imbalance while adapting to evolving media landscapes.
The White House Press Briefing room is owned by US taxpayers – not the leftist members of the elitist White House Correspondents Association
The idea they put a name plate on these chairs can call them "their seats" is an outrage
I say go to open seating https://t.co/jcND18UxOO
— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) March 30, 2025
New Media Representation
The White House’s plan includes integrating “new media” outlets like The Daily Wire, Axios, Semafor, and various influencers into the briefing room. This shift acknowledges the changing ways Americans consume news, with increasing numbers turning to podcasts, blogs, and social media rather than traditional news sources. The administration has noted that reporters without assigned seats often face challenges like visibility issues and disruptions from latecomers, which the new system aims to address.
The administration’s January announcement that it would accommodate independent journalists, podcasters, and influencers signaled this direction early on. Right-wing YouTuber Tim Pool has been mentioned as part of the new press rotation, though his inclusion has raised questions about content creator qualifications compared to traditional journalists. The White House views this restructuring as necessary to engage with all media outlets, not just legacy media, citing declining public trust in mass media institutions.
Concerns About Press Independence
The White House Correspondents Association has expressed significant concerns about the changes. The WHCA has already ceded control of pool reports to the president, affecting the management of reporter rotations for White House events.
When the White House announced its takeover of pool rotations, WHCA president Eugene Daniels stated that the move “tears at the independence of a free press in the United States” and “suggests the government will choose the journalists who cover the president.” Despite these criticisms, administration officials maintain they are seeking a balance between innovation and responsibility in media relations. The White House has not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding these changes.
Sources:
White House to Take Control of Briefing Room Seating Chart, Add Influencers
White House To Take Charge Of Briefing-Room Seating Chart
White House Will Decide Which Reporters Get Briefing Room Seats: Report
