Staff Reports
In recent developments, the mainstream media have once again thrown a tantrum over a decision from the Trump administration that threatens their cozy little arrangement with the White House. This time, the uproar pertains to the Trump White House’s decision to exclude the White House Correspondents’ Association from the vetting process for pool reporters. Activating their social media outrage machine, journalists flocked to Twitter to lament what they perceive as an affront to their journalistic integrity.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calmly reassured the public that traditional legacy outlets that have savored access for decades won’t be cast aside. Instead, she pointed out that the White House was opening up opportunities for other deserving outlets that had been sidelined until now. This move not only diversifies the press pool but also adds a much-needed breath of fresh air into a stagnant system dominated by a handful of well-connected “journalists” who have long enjoyed a monopoly on who’s deemed worthy enough to report from the White House.
Trump is enacting a massive shakeup in the White House press pool.
Now the White House will select who is in the press pool, not the White House Correspondents Association.
This is another step in replacing the corrupt legacy media. MSM no more.
— Clandestine (@WarClandestine) February 25, 2025
The reactions that erupted across the press corps were nothing short of melodramatic. Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for the New York Times and husband of left-wing luminary Susan Glasser, quickly took to social media to draw bizarre parallels between Trump’s actions and those of Vladimir Putin. This tone-deaf comparison highlights the tendency of certain media elites to exaggerate their own importance while failing to grasp the reality that many Americans are fine with a little shake-up in how press access is granted.
Baker’s tweet was met with a sharp retort from Leavitt, who rightfully pointed out the hypocrisy in his claims. In a stark contradiction to Baker’s portrayal of a dictatorial press environment, Trump had just opened the Oval Office for a nearly hour-long Q&A session with reporters. This refreshing approach demonstrates that the Trump administration values transparency and engagement with a broader array of media outlets, even as some mainstream journalists cling desperately to their old ways.
The truth is, Trump’s approach to media engagement starkly contrasts with the one practiced by his predecessor. Under Biden, the press is often kept at arm’s length, and access is limited, generating far less coverage. Meanwhile, Trump’s administration has consistently made itself available for questions, much to the dismay of the mainstream press who seem to prefer only reporting on and from tightly controlled settings. Even CNN’s own Brian Stelter, known for his incessant nagging about media access, has voiced his frustration, lamenting that Trump is dominating the news cycle yet again.
Instead of whining about the lack of access, perhaps these journalists should consider that the Trump White House is simply redefining what accountability looks like—moving away from an elite few and opening the doors to a wider array of voices. As the mainstream media finds itself on the losing end of this battle for press relevance, the Trump administration continues to showcase its commitment to a more inclusive and accountable media dialogue. Let’s hope this new dynamic remains intact as we move forward, leaving the whining correspondents and their echo chambers in the dust.
