Fact Check: White House Moves to Pick the Pool Reporters Who Cover Trump

Published on: February 25, 2025

Source: The New York Times

What’s True?

The Trump administration did announce changes to the way pool reporters are selected, shifting this responsibility from the White House Correspondents’ Association to the White House press team. The administration stated that traditional media outlets would still participate but that newer, previously excluded outlets would also be given access.

What’s Misleading?

The article asserts that the White House’s decision “breaks decades of precedent” without acknowledging that past administrations have also controlled press access in various ways. While the White House Correspondents’ Association traditionally selected pool reporters, previous presidents have granted or restricted access to certain outlets, which is a relevant historical context missing from the article.

Furthermore, the language in the piece suggests that the administration’s move is an outright restriction rather than an expansion of access to additional media outlets. The article fails to examine whether some independent or smaller organizations will now have opportunities they previously lacked.

What News Agencies Have Been Excluded?

The article does not provide specific details on which outlets have been excluded under this new policy. However, historical precedent suggests that certain media companies critical of an administration may face reduced access. So far, there is no official list of excluded outlets, making it impossible to verify whether legacy media organizations are being removed outright.

For those questioning how this decision impacts press freedom, it remains to be seen which journalists will benefit and which may lose access. Transparency from the White House on how reporters are selected moving forward will be essential in evaluating the fairness of this new approach.

Why This Fact Check Matters

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