Leavitt made her remarks during an Axios event hosted by co-founder Mike Allen, where she addressed criticism from the White House Correspondents Association about modifications to wire service positioning in the press pool. She contended that broadening participation among news outlets strengthened transparency and democratic principles.
What Leavitt Said
“There are thousands of outlets who have White House press credentials,” Leavitt said. “Why should a single outlet have the privilege of being in that 13 person press pool every single day?”
She characterized the changes as opening doors to more journalists and outlets rather than limiting coverage. “We’ve actually ensured that more print outlets like Axios have a greater chance of being part of that 13 person press pool,” Leavitt explained.
Leavitt emphasized the administration’s reasoning: “It’s not about ideology. It’s just about increasing the wide variety of outlets that have access.” She noted the White House continues to credential outlets across the political spectrum.
The Correspondents Association Response
Allen referenced a White House Correspondents Association statement asserting that government should not control independent media coverage. Leavitt rejected the premise, arguing that a small group of journalists should not dictate access to the Oval Office.
“There should be equal access for all outlets,” Leavitt said. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
Context on Media Access
The administration pointed to previous comparisons of presidential media engagement as context for its approach. A 2024 Axios analysis found that President Joe Biden had conducted 164 press conferences and interviews at a comparable point in his term, compared to Trump’s 468 during his first term.
Leavitt noted that the Trump campaign ran an unconventional media strategy that contributed to his election victory. “The president ran a nontraditional media campaign, which propelled him back to the highest office in the land. And we felt it was our responsibility to continue that in our coverage at the White House,” she said.
