Wed Feb 26 03:20:42 UTC 2025: ## White House Seizes Control of Press Pool, Sparking Free Press Concerns

**Washington, D.C.** – The Trump administration has announced it will assume direct control over the White House press pool, a move condemned by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) as a direct attack on press freedom. For decades, the WHCA has managed the pool, which prioritizes select journalists from major news organizations for coverage of presidential events.

The administration, however, claims it will broaden access to include streaming services and other outlets, ending what it calls the WHCA’s decades-long “dictation” of which journalists cover the president. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that established outlets like CNN, Reuters, and the New York Times will retain access.

WHCA President Eugene Daniels denounced the decision as a blatant attempt to manipulate press coverage. “This tears at the independence of a free press in the United States,” Daniels said, arguing that allowing the government to choose its own press corps undermines fundamental principles of a free country.

President Trump himself confirmed the change, stating, “We’re going to be now calling the shots.” His comments came during an Oval Office meeting where he further criticized the Associated Press (AP) for its refusal to use his preferred term, “Gulf of America,” instead of “Gulf of Mexico.” The AP continues to be barred from certain White House events following a dispute over this issue. A judge has delayed a ruling on the AP’s legal challenge to the ban until March 30th.

The administration’s actions have sparked widespread concern among press freedom advocates, who fear this sets a dangerous precedent for government control over news coverage. The WHCA vows to continue fighting for full transparency and unrestricted access to White House events.

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