The White House is about to make a significant move that could dramatically change the way journalists are allowed to cover its operations, and it’s a decision that could anger the liberal media.
In a bold and unprecedented power grab, the White House plans to take control of the seating arrangements in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, a role that has historically been managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA).
A Shift in the Seating Chart and Media Landscape
For the first time in modern history, the White House will have the final say on where reporters sit, potentially upending decades of precedent.
Legacy media outlets like CNN, NBC, CBS, and ABC, which have long enjoyed front-row privileges, might now find themselves relegated to seats further back in the small, crowded room.
With only 49 seats available in the briefing room, these changes could have a significant impact on media access.
The shift will take place in the coming weeks, marking a major departure from the WHCA’s traditional role in managing both the seating arrangements and the press pool that follows the president.
White House officials explain that these changes are part of a broader effort to modernize the way media access is handled, reflecting the evolving ways that people consume news today.
New Metrics, New Rules for the Media
The new approach to seating will prioritize media outlets based on their audience reach, signaling a departure from the traditional model where longstanding legacy media outlets automatically received premium seating.
Instead, platforms like Punchbowl News, Axios, and even individual online influencers could now have a stronger presence in the briefing room.
“It’s not just about favorable coverage,” a senior official said.
“It’s about recognizing the media landscape as it is—today, not 30 years ago.”
Essentially, media organizations will need to prove their value by demonstrating that they have a strong, engaged audience.
A recognizable brand name won’t be enough anymore.
The WHCA’s Diminished Role and the Fallout from Past Controversies
This move comes in the wake of a series of actions by the Trump administration that have tested the relationship between the White House and traditional media outlets.
Since his time in office, President Trump has often referred to certain members of the press as “enemies of the people.”
This tense relationship has led to more contentious moments, such as the February decision to ban the Associated Press (AP) from the White House press pool.
The AP had refused to comply with President Trump’s executive order to change the term “Gulf of Mexico” to “Gulf of America.”
Despite legal challenges from the AP, the White House has maintained its stance, and the WHCA has supported the lawsuit, though it may have only strengthened the administration’s resolve to handle media access on its own terms.
According to Axios, a suggestion was even made to rewrite the WHCA’s bylaws, possibly appointing the current White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, as its president.
While this idea has not been seriously pursued, it demonstrates the growing tensions over control of White House press access.
Leavitt’s Central Role in the Power Struggle
At the center of this battle is Karoline Leavitt, the 27-year-old White House press secretary and rising conservative voice.
Leavitt has become an emblem of the administration’s push to reshape its relationship with the media, often favoring right-wing platforms that align with Trump’s political narrative.
Critics argue that this move is a deliberate attempt to sideline and humiliate the media outlets that have been most critical of the Trump administration.
For those reporters who are used to commanding front-row seats at press conferences, the possibility of being moved to the back row could feel like a serious blow.
This battle over the seating chart is just the latest chapter in the ongoing struggle between Trump and the press corps, which has grown more intense as the administration continues to push back against what it sees as biased or unfavorable coverage.
A More Combative White House Media Strategy
With Leavitt at the helm of White House communications, the administration has become even more combative and strategic in its media approach.
Leavitt, who has defended Trump at every turn, is unafraid to break with tradition if it serves the administration’s interests.
The White House’s new media strategy appears aimed at consolidating control and ensuring that its narrative dominates the conversation.
As the media landscape shifts, it remains to be seen how these changes will affect the relationship between the White House and the press, and whether the new seating chart will be the final step in a larger overhaul of how the administration engages with the media.