White House decides media coverage for Trump events

In late February 2025, the White House announced a significant change in the way journalists are assigned to cover President Trump during limited-access events. Previously, the responsibility of assigning which media outlets could attend these important events rested with the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA), an organization that has played this role for over a century. However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the administration would now control the selection process, allowing them to include not only traditional networks but also new and emerging media outlets. The announcement was made amid ongoing tensions between the White House and various news organizations, particularly after the Associated Press sued the administration for restricting its access to presidential events based on its refusal to use the term "Gulf of America," as directed by Trump. This decision has raised alarm within the journalism community, with the WHCA expressing concerns that the new policy undermines the independence of the press. They argue that the administration's move could set a dangerous precedent regarding government control over media coverage, suggesting that it may threaten the freedom of the press itself. The implications of this policy shift could alter the dynamics of media coverage surrounding the presidency, as the administration's selection could favor certain networks over others, potentially limiting the diversity of viewpoints represented in the press pool.