White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt reported on the implementation of new rules for the media, stating that the government will determine which journalists can follow and ask questions to Donald Trump. Until now, this responsibility fell to the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), responsible for selecting the members of the 'pool,' a small group of journalists, photographers, and cameramen who accompany the President of the United States.
Traditionally, the existence of a 'pool' following the President has been a standard in the White House due to the space limitation for all reporters wishing to cover presidential events to be present in the Oval Office, speech rooms, and the presidential plane. Founded in 1914, the WHCA was responsible for selecting journalists with access to this 'pool,' advocating for greater access for White House coverage and challenging past administrations' attempts to restrict it.
Eugene Daniels, president of the WHCA, criticized the White House's decision, arguing that it undermines the independence of the press in the United States by suggesting that the government will choose which journalists cover the President. Meanwhile, a judge recently ruled that the administration may continue to vet access to certain media outlets but called for a review of that determination.
The group of journalists following Trump generally consists of between 13 and 14 professionals from major national and international media, with the possibility of expansion in some cases. These 'poolers' act as the eyes and ears of other reporters at presidential events, providing detailed reports on what transpired.
In a context of conflict with the Associated Press (AP), which has been restricted from the 'pool,' preventing it from asking questions to Trump for not using the term adopted by the President, AP has turned to the courts arguing that this action violates the freedom of the press guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. The changes announced by the White House are yet to be determined, and it is unclear how they will materialize.
