Journalists’ Association Accuses White House of Trying to Control Newsroom, Levitt Rebuts

The White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Monday (March 31st) that the White House is “seriously considering” adjustments to the seating arrangement in the White House briefing room. She criticized the statement issued by the White House Correspondents Association, dismissing rumors about the government seeking to control the briefing room.

In an interview with Fox News on Monday afternoon, Leavitt stated, “We have made many changes in various aspects to benefit the American public in how the media reports on the White House. We believe it is fundamentally unfair for an elite organization based in Washington, D.C. to choose who can report on the President of the United States.”

During the interview, Leavitt was asked about a report by the American news website Axios on Sunday, which claimed that the White House is considering controlling the seating arrangement in the briefing room, a task usually handled by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA).

The White House spokesperson confirmed that the Trump administration is “seriously considering” this adjustment. She also mentioned that the White House Press Office has been attempting to “facilitate” talks with the leadership of the White House Correspondents Association.

“Unfortunately, their chair sent a completely unserious email,” Leavitt said, adding that the email indicates that this journalist organization is not concerned with press freedom, transparency, and the inclusion of all media voices, but rather focused on their own monopoly over the White House briefing room.

Before Leavitt’s interview with Fox News, the White House Correspondents Association Committee released a statement on Monday morning stating, “The White House should abandon this misguided effort and show the American people they are not afraid to explain their policies or answer questions from independent media not under government control.”

The organization further accused the White House of attempting to seize control of the independent media organization system so they can more easily retaliate against media coverage.

In recent weeks, tensions have escalated between the White House Correspondents Association and the Trump administration over press access issues. In February, the White House took control of the rotation of the White House press pool, giving conservative media the opportunity to engage with President Trump. However, the White House Correspondents Association alleges that the White House made this change to exclude and punish certain media for reporting they disapprove of.