In recent months, former President Donald Trump has intensified his efforts to remove news media from the White House, proposing to evict reporters from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room to restore the indoor pool that President Franklin D. Roosevelt installed in 1933 for polio therapy. The pool was later covered over by President Richard Nixon to accommodate the press corps. Trump presented the idea as a symbolic final act during one of Karoline Leavitt’s last meetings as White House press secretary in late August, although the proposal did not advance during her tenure.
Trump’s consideration of relocating the press dates back to his first term and has resurfaced repeatedly. The most likely alternative location for the media would be the Eisenhower Executive Office Building across the street from the White House. Several close to the former president view this as a further escalation in his longstanding contentious relationship with the news media—a dynamic marked by lawsuits, bans on certain outlets, and public accusations of "fake news."
Trump’s core team has become narrower over time, with advisors encouraging more aggressive actions against journalists, reflecting the former president’s increasing frustration with media coverage. Steven Cheung, the White House communications director under Trump, defended the administration’s stance, saying distrust of the news media stems from fabricated stories and false information, adding that “all options remain on the table.”
The idea of moving the media out is not new. During the 2016 transition, Stephen K. Bannon, then incoming chief strategist, proposed relocating reporters to a townhouse near Lafayette Square or the Eisenhower building. The plan was met with resistance from senior officials who deemed it impractical and disruptive. Similar discussions occurred during the 2017 West Wing renovations and more recently in late 2024, but advisers largely preferred to keep the press close due to logistical concerns and Trump’s frequent impromptu Oval Office statements.
Beyond the physical space, the Trump administration took other measures perceived as limiting press access. Beginning in late 2023, access to the “Upper Press” area near the press secretary’s office required appointments, and in September 2024, Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, citing their coverage as falsehoods. Over 70 journalists lost credentials in the process. A federal judge ruled the ban violated First Amendment rights, ordering the reinstatement of passes, though the administration appealed the decision.
Trump’s legal battles with media companies have included lawsuits against ABC, CBS, and The Des Moines Register, actions aides described as intended to intimidate critical coverage. The Justice Department also initiated inquiries into major networks following their temporary suspension of pooled White House TV coverage in solidarity with CNN. These inquiries, described as antitrust investigations, came a few months after FBI agents subpoenaed New York Times reporters over stories on security concerns during Trump’s trip to the NATO summit in Turkey. The subpoenas were later withdrawn after criticism from a federal judge regarding their premature use.
Influential figures within Trump’s circle, such as Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and Boris Epshteyn, the president’s longtime lawyer and adviser, have reportedly pushed for these aggressive stances. Pulte, who has no formal White House role but enjoys significant access during weekend golf outings with Trump, created visuals advocating for the pool restoration and potential legal reprisals against perceived critics. Epshteyn has played a key role in advancing lawsuits against journalists and media outlets in recent months.
While removing the press from the White House would be a historic shift, its symbolic significance lies in the proximity traditionally afforded to journalists as a safeguard of press freedom in U.S. democracy. Previous attempts to convert press areas back into recreational spaces, such as Hillary Clinton’s reported 1993 pool proposal, were met with public opposition preventing such change. However, thus far, Trump’s moves to restrict or reshape media access have encountered limited public backlash, including from political opponents.