Things are being done differently in the White House under Trump’s administration. It’s a breath of fresh air.
And Trump’s White House press secretary dropped a major bombshell that put the Leftist mainstream media in their place.
In her first news conference as White House press secretary on Tuesday, Karoline Leavitt unveiled a notable addition to the press briefing room: a new rotating seat designated for “new media” outlets. Positioned near her podium, this change marks an effort to broaden media access and accommodate evolving journalistic platforms.
Leavitt, at just 27 years old, framed the move as a nod to the shifting media landscape and emphasized the importance of including ideologically diverse voices. “Starting today, this seat in the front of the room, which is usually occupied by the press secretary’s staff, will be called the new media seat,” Leavitt explained.
She added that her team would review applications from potential candidates, granting access to those who meet their criteria and clear Secret Service vetting.
The seat will serve as a rotating platform for outlets that don’t have a permanent presence in the room but play a significant role in modern journalism. Among the first to occupy the seat were representatives from Axios and Breitbart, which is a right-wing platform.
Axios executive editor Mike Allen, known for his long tenure at Politico, led the Q&A session by addressing concerns about Chinese advancements in artificial intelligence. Breitbart’s Matt Boyle followed with a question about enhancing diversity in media representation.
Leavitt described the initiative as part of a broader effort to engage with all forms of media, not just traditional outlets that usually have a Left-wing bias.
“In keeping with this revolutionary media approach that President Trump deployed during the campaign, the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who are seated in this room,” Leavitt said, citing Gallup polls that show declining public trust in traditional media.
She highlighted the growing popularity of independent platforms, noting, “Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned away from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from podcasts, blogs, social media, and other independent outlets. It’s essential to our team that we share President Trump’s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape in 2025.”
Mixed Reactions to the Announcement
Leavitt’s move brought relief to some members of the White House press corps who had feared more significant changes. Rumors had swirled about the possibility of the Trump administration reassigning the existing 49 press seats, sparking unease among reporters.
The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which traditionally allocates seats in the briefing room, had expressed concerns about maintaining access and fairness. While officials technically have the authority to reassign seats, such moves are rare and often controversial.
The briefing room’s front row is currently occupied by major television networks like NBC, Fox News, ABC, CBS, and CNN, along with news wires such as The Associated Press and Reuters. These outlets typically dominate the questioning during briefings, leaving back-row reporters with limited opportunities to participate. WHCA leadership has discussed ways to ensure broader representation, including urging front-row journalists to limit repetitive questioning.
Leavitt’s announcement was accompanied by a parade of right-wing media personalities arriving at the White House, including representatives from Gateway Pundit, Real America’s Voice, One America News Network, and Steve Bannon’s War Room. Several of these outlets had participated in briefings during Trump’s first term, contributing to a more eclectic mix of reporters in the room.
Revisiting Media Access Policies
The new press secretary also pledged to roll back changes made under President Biden, particularly a 2023 policy that imposed stricter criteria for press passes. The reform was widely seen as targeting Simon Ateba, a journalist from Today News Africa who frequently clashed with Biden press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“Our team will work diligently to restore the press passes of the 440 journalists whose passes were wrongly revoked by the previous administration,” Leavitt stated.
Leavitt spent much of her first briefing defending President Trump’s policies on immigration, foreign affairs, and domestic issues. Her confident debut set the tone for a communications strategy that blends traditional outreach with a focus on new and alternative media, reflecting the evolving dynamics of 21st-century journalism.
Stay tuned to The Federalist Wire.
