SAD NEWS : Leavitt Sets Media Straight With Fact-Check On Joe Biden…
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the Trump administration’s modifications to presidential press access rules during an Axios event, arguing the changes expand rather than restrict media coverage.
Leavitt outlined how the administration has restructured the 13-person daily press pool that covers the president. She stated the changes allow more outlets to rotate through briefing room access rather than having the same outlets present every single day.
The Defense of New Press Access Rules
“We view them as opening access to more outlets, more voices, more news, journalists and outlets,” Leavitt said in response to questions about whether the changes represented restrictions. “We shouldn’t have a few outlets who have a monopoly over the briefing room or over that 13 person press pool that covers the president.”
Leavitt emphasized that thousands of outlets hold White House press credentials and hundreds cover the beat daily. “Why should a single outlet have the privilege of being in that 13 person press pool every single day,” she asked, arguing the restructuring creates broader representation.
She added that the administration has “created more transparency, more accessibility, and greater access for a broad variety of outlets and a diversity of journalists.” Leavitt noted that news organizations continue to receive information about administration activities regularly.
Response to Press Freedom Concerns
Axios co-founder Mike Allen asked whether the government should control independent media coverage, referencing a White House Correspondents Association statement opposing the changes. Leavitt responded that a small group of journalists should not determine who accesses the Oval Office or Air Force One.
“There should be equal access for all outlets,” Leavitt stated. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
She disputed suggestions the administration was removing outlets from coverage. “No one has been restricted,” Leavitt said. “We’ve just given more spots to more outlets and more voices.”
Comparison to Previous Administration
Leavitt referenced a July Axios analysis showing Biden held fewer press conferences and media interviews than any of the last seven presidents at the same point in their term. Biden had conducted 164 compared to Trump’s 468 at comparable periods, according to the outlet.
The data showed George W. Bush recorded 248 and Ronald Reagan 262 at similar junctures in their presidencies.
This story has been updated. CNN’s staff contributed to this report.