Leavitt Takes the Press Pool From the Correspondents' Association: 'Not Anymore' (February 25, 2025)

The Trump White House took control of who gets into the president’s most exclusive press events. “As you all know, for decades, a group of D.C.-based journalists, the White House Correspondents’ Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the president of the United States in these most intimate spaces. Not anymore,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the briefing on Feb. 25, 2025, according to the transcript published by the American Presidency Project [1].

“Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team,” she said [1].

The video above shows the Feb. 25, 2025, briefing. Quotes are from the American Presidency Project and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit [1][2].

”In 2025, Not 1925”

“I am proud to announce that we are going to give the power back to the people who read your papers, who watch your television shows, and who listen to your radio stations,” Leavitt said [1].

“Legacy outlets who have participated in the press pool for decades will still be allowed to join, fear not, but we will also be offering the privilege to well-deserving outlets who have never been allowed to share in this awesome responsibility,” she said [1].

“As I have said since the first day behind this podium, it’s beyond time that the White House press operation reflects the media habits of the American people in 2025, not 1925,” Leavitt said. “A select group of D.C.-based journalists should no longer have a monopoly over the privilege of press access at the White House.” [1]

“It Is Not a Legal Right for All”

The day before, a federal judge had denied the Associated Press’ emergency motion to get back into the pool. The AP had been kept out of the Oval Office and other restricted spaces because, officials said, it kept using the name Gulf of Mexico in its Stylebook rather than Gulf of America [2].

“Asking the president of the United States questions in limited spaces, such as the Oval Office and Air Force One, is a privilege that unfortunately has only been granted to a few. It is not a legal right for all,” Leavitt said [1].

A reporter Leavitt called John read from Judge Trevor McFadden’s ruling. “He said, ‘Why not just do away with the entire White House Correspondents’ Association along with it,’ because, essentially, they have no authority. They just usurped it. What is your reaction to that?” [1]

“There are, as you know — look at this room — hundreds of journalists who show up to this building every single day and are not granted that luxury of flying on Air Force One and asking the president of the United States questions. And so, we want to ensure, again, everyone has a seat at that highly coveted table,” Leavitt answered [1].

”He Thinks He’s Doing a Bad Job”

A reporter asked why Trump had replaced the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. CQ Brown Jr. “He thinks he’s doing a bad job, and it’s time for a shake-up at the Pentagon. They failed seven audits in a row,” Leavitt said [1].

“The president, when he swore him in as the chief of staff for the Air Force, called him ‘a great man’ and ‘a great gentleman,’” the reporter followed up. “I think replacing him speaks for itself,” Leavitt said [1].

”Very, Very Nervous”

The reporter also asked why Trump named Dan Bongino deputy director of the FBI. “This is a man who loves his country and who has honorably served our country in ways that many people have not,” Leavitt said [1].

“He is a former Secret Service agent who put his life on the line to protect this country,” she said. “He’s also an outsider to this Washington swamp, and we often see that when outsiders are appointed to such coveted positions, a lot of people in this city get very, very nervous.” [1]

“Are My Press Briefings Not Good Enough for You?”

A reporter asked about the “five things” email sent to federal workers. “I did it myself, and I was more than happy to do it because I’m very grateful that I am serving the American people on the American taxpayers’ dime,” Leavitt said [1].

“Do you think DOGE should hire a spokesperson, just so that Elon Musk doesn’t put out tweets that then confuse federal workers?” a reporter asked. “Are my press briefings not good enough for you, Jacqui?” Leavitt answered, as the room laughed [1].

By the Numbers

81 percent: support deporting illegal migrant criminals from the interior, per the Harvard/Harris poll Leavitt cited [1].
76 percent: support DOGE’s search for fraud and waste, per the same poll [1].
69 percent: support keeping men out of women’s sports, per the poll [1].
7: failed Pentagon audits in a row, per Leavitt [1].

What Happened Next

The appeals court sided with the White House. On June 6, 2025, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit “ORDERED that the motion for a stay pending appeal be granted in part,” putting on hold, except for the East Room, the district court’s April 8 order in the AP’s favor [2].

“The White House is likely to succeed on the merits because these restricted presidential spaces are not First Amendment fora opened for private speech and discussion. The White House therefore retains discretion to determine, including on the basis of viewpoint, which journalists will be admitted,” Judge Neomi Rao wrote, joined by Judge Gregory Katsas [2].

For Leavitt’s first briefing and the new media seat, see HYGO News’ page on Jan. 28, 2025. For Leavitt on the Statue of Liberty three weeks later, see the page on March 17, 2025.