White House defends dismantling traditional press access, sparking intense debate over transparency and historical media protections.
WASHINGTON— White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt mounted an aggressive defense of the administration’s overhaul of presidential press access during an on-stage forum with Axios co-founder Mike Allen, arguing that dismantling traditional press pool arrangements modernizes coverage rather than curtails journalistic scrutiny.
The sharp exchange highlighted a deepening institutional battle between the executive branch and legacy news organizations over who holds the authority to decide which reporters board Air Force One,enter the Oval Office, and staff the protective pool tracking the commander-in-chief. At the center of the dispute is the administration’s decision to revoke the Associated Press’s permanent, guaranteed seat within that traveling cohort.