Trump administration to choose which journalists will have access to the White House and follow the president

The Trump administration is "tearing apart the independence of the press." The terms are strong. They are pronounced by the White House Correspondents' Association, which is fuming this Tuesday, February 25, after the American executive announced that it was taking control of media access to the president. Access until now managed by this organization of journalists.

The planned takeover "suggests that the government will choose the journalists who follow the president. In a free country, leaders do not choose the media," noted the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA), founded in 1914 and which historically decides which journalists are allowed closest to the American head of state, for example in the Oval Office and on his plane.

White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt indicated that the "pool", the small group of journalists with privileged access to the president, admitted for example into the Oval Office or on his plane, "Air Force One", would be open to new media, chosen this time by the American executive. "We are giving power back to the people" , launched Karoline Leavitt, assuring that "hundreds" of journalists deserved such access. However, she specified that "traditional media, which have been part of the press pool for decades, will still be allowed to participate" .

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Until now, admission to this restricted group, of which AFP is a part, has been decided by the WHCA, which manages the operation of the group of journalists accompanying the president during each of his public appearances, at the White House or when he travels in the United States and around the world. The "pool" is responsible for reporting, for journalists who are not on site, on the facts, gestures and statements of the head of state.

The announcement comes in the midst of a standoff between the White House and the American agency AP, which has historically always been part of the restricted circle of journalists allowed to get close to the American president, but which is now banned. The American executive accuses it of not complying with the new name of the Gulf of Mexico, renamed "Gulf of America" ​​by a decree of Donald Trump.

On Monday, a federal judge rejected a petition filed by the Associated Press, a pillar of American journalism, asking to restore its full access to the White House, without ruling on the merits. "RIP WHCA" ("Rest in peace, WHCA") rejoiced in a message on X Jason Miller, one of the advisers to the White House, sharing a video of men carrying a coffin while dancing, a "meme" very popular with regulars on social networks.

From her first briefing, Karoline Leavitt had announced the invitation of "new media" , also chosen by the White House, to ask questions during this regular press briefing. And in recent days, access to the Oval Office had already been opened to journalists working for media outlets very popular with supporters of Donald Trump, who relied heavily on podcasters and influencers during his election campaign, while violently attacking traditional media.