New earthquake at the White House. This Tuesday, February 25, it was the press room that trembled. The Trump administration has indeed announced that it would compose itself the “pool” of the media, this limited group of journalists who benefit from privileged access to the American president. The White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt added that this new policy was intended to “return power to the people” and allow “new media”, such as websites, streaming services and Podcasts, to “share this impressive responsibility”. “The traditional media, which has been here for years, will always participate in the pool, but new voices will also be welcome,” she said reassured journalists.
Very quickly, Donald Trump was quick to join rejoicing, declaring: “It is we who lead the dance”. A well orchestrated dance that breaks decades of American tradition.
The White House is surrounded by “obedient journalists”
Since 1914, the composition of this “pool” was exclusively reserved for the association of correspondents at the White House (WHCA). “Since its foundation […]the WHCA sought to ensure that journalists, photographers, producers and technicians […] Decide with each other how these rotations are managed, in order to ensure coherent professional standards and equity access to the name of all readers, viewers and listeners, “recalls Eugene Daniels de Politico, current president of the WHCA, in a press release.
Until then frequently made up of CNN journalists, Reuters, The Associated Press, ABC News, Fox News and The New York Timesthe “pool” is responsible for reporting, for reporters who are not on site, the facts and gestures of the President of the United States via written reports, or by broadcasting video, audio, as well as photographs . A useful device during press conferences organized in narrow places such as the Oval Office or on board the presidential plane “Air Force One” where only 13 places are reserved for the press.
One of the White House advisers, Jason Miller, was also delighted on X this Tuesday. “Rip Whca (rest in peace Whca, editor’s note),” he wrote in a post. But with the death of the association’s “pool” system, that of press freedom could follow. And for good reason, the official residence of the American president now has maximum control over journalists. A decision that greatly calls into question the independence of the press. “In a free country, leaders should not be able to choose their own press corps,” said Eugene Daniels.
The chief of the correspondents of New York Times At the White House, Peter Baker, dared the comparison with Vladimir Putin, believing that this decision reminded him how the Kremlin had “taken control” of his “pool”, surrounding himself with “obedient journalists”. “Let me laugh Peter,” replied on the same social network Karoline Leavitt, accompanying his response from a smiley clown.
A salvo of attacks against press freedom
This threat to the American press freedom has been hovering since January 20, the date of the inauguration of Donald Trump. Tuesday’s announcement is only the last in a series of efforts from its administration to erode the access and influence of the traditional media that cover the news of the American president. Recently, the Trump administration added a headquarters reserved for “new media” in the White House press room. A seat that has not failed to be occupied in recent weeks by Partisan personalities from Donald Trump, such as the wise podcastor Steele.
The Republican President has always made this fight against the media his specialty, provoking for pleasure journalists on multiple times. Example during his electoral campaign where he had treated them “enemies of the people”. On Wednesday, the American president even threatened to sue the media, the authors and publishers using “anonymous sources”, in order to ensure whether they “exist or not”. “Who knows, we may be able to create a new law!” He exclaimed on his social network.
The last announcement comes in full offensive of the White House against the Associated Press (AP) agency, now banned from the limited circle of journalists admitted as close as possible to the president. The American executive criticizes him, among other things, for not complying with the new name of the Gulf of Mexico, renamed “Gulf of America” by Donald Trump. “These are left -wing extremists. They are second -class journalists,” qualified the real estate magnate on Tuesday. In this salvo of attacks, an exception: Fox News, the most watched news channel in the country and the real standard of the Conservatives. The Channel belonging to the Murdoch family even hired Lara Trump this week this week, a daughter-in-law of the president.
The board of directors of the Association of correspondents at the White House is decided not to let it go. “The WHCA will never stop pleading for full access, total transparency and the right of the American public to read, listen and look at what is going on in the White House,” wrote its president. Business to follow …