At a media event with Axios co-founder Mike Allen, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended changes to White House press access, saying they expand opportunities for more outlets and journalists rather than restrict coverage. She argued that no single media organization should dominate the 13-person press pool and said the administration is increasing transparency and diversity in media access.
Leavitt also pushed back against criticism from the White House Correspondents’ Association, saying a small group of journalists should not control who gets access to the Oval Office or Air Force One. She added that the administration still allows critical outlets to participate and emphasized that the changes are about broader representation in a digital media landscape.
The discussion also highlighted differences between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden in media engagement. Leavitt noted that Axios previously reported Biden held fewer press conferences and interviews than recent presidents, with 164 appearances compared to Trump’s 468 at the same point in their presidencies.
