White House Expands Press Briefing Access to ‘New Media’ Outlets
The White House is introducing a new policy that will grant independent journalists, podcasters, and social media influencers the opportunity to ask questions during press briefings.
A Shift Toward ‘New Media’
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the changes during her first briefing on Tuesday, emphasizing that President Trump is adapting the administration to the evolving media landscape.
“We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, and social media influencers,” Leavitt stated.
She also revealed that the press privileges of roughly 440 journalists—which had been revoked under the previous administration—would be reinstated.
New Voices in the Briefing Room
In a notable change, seats in the briefing room previously reserved for White House staff will now be filled by members of the new media, who will also be given the first questions at briefings.
On Tuesday, the initial questions went to Axios’s Mike Allen and Breitbart’s Matt Boyle.
“As long as you are creating news content of the day and are a legitimate independent journalist, you are welcome to cover this White House,” Leavitt added.
Trump’s Media Strategy
The policy shift follows Trump’s campaign approach, where he largely bypassed traditional media and instead engaged with podcasters, content creators, and internet personalities for interviews.
This move further signals the administration’s preference for direct engagement with alternative media platforms over mainstream outlets.
