The Republican then turned towards a map saying “Gulf of America” behind him and added: “I’m just admiring it as I look at it. I’m getting teary eyed.”
The history of the White House “press pool” goes back nearly a century. It has long been a way of pooling resources among competing outlets, especially in cramped spaces in the West Wing.
But Leavitt, the youngest White House press secretary in history at age 27, said the WHCA had “long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the president of the United States in these most intimate spaces.”
“Not anymore. I am proud to announce that we are going to give the power back to the people,” she added.
“Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team.”
Leavitt said “legacy outlets” would still be allowed to join the press pool, but that access would also be opened to “deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility.”
She appeared flanked by two large video screens saying “Victory” and “Gulf of America.”
Shortly afterward, senior White House advisor Jason Miller said on X: “R.I.P. @WHCA 1914-2025” along with a picture of mourners bearing a coffin.
‘Free country’
The press pool on the presidential jet consists of 13 newspaper and wire service journalists, photographers and TV and radio reporters, while for events in the White House itself it is slightly larger.
