
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s decision to open press access to independent journalists, content creators, and podcasters has triggered a surge of applications, with more than 7,000 requests already submitted. This marks a major shift away from the stronghold traditional media outlets have had over White House coverage.
Leavitt, speaking at her first press briefing, outlined the new policy, emphasizing that the Trump administration would not cater exclusively to legacy media. “We are welcoming all legitimate journalists, including independent media and digital creators, to cover this White House,” she stated. The administration has long pushed for a broader media landscape, aiming to reach the American people without relying on traditional gatekeepers.
An open and transparent administration! Trump opens the press briefing room to new news media outlets and will reinstate access to those media outlets who have had their access revoked by the previous communist Democratic Party administration! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/2HJiQeK86A
— Bella (@bellausa17) January 28, 2025
To further this effort, the White House reinstated hard passes for journalists whose credentials were revoked under the previous administration. Additionally, a newly designated “New Media Seat” in the front row of the briefing room will ensure that independent outlets have a presence in official press briefings.
In another break from past protocol, Leavitt chose not to start with a question from the Associated Press, instead calling on Matt Boyle of Breitbart and Mike Allen of Axios. This move signaled a clear departure from long-standing White House press traditions and reinforced the administration’s commitment to decentralizing media influence.
Vance: Liberal reporters are welcome to ask questions, as are fresh voices and new media, but "if you're a propagandist with a Democratic Party, then we're going to treat you like a propagandist with a Democratic Party." pic.twitter.com/SZvGQgKWzP
— Mollie (@MZHemingway) January 30, 2025
President Donald Trump has consistently bypassed corporate news organizations, favoring digital media and direct communication methods. The expansion of press credentials aligns with this strategy, ensuring the administration’s message reaches Americans without being filtered through legacy outlets.
The White House has yet to announce how it will process the massive number of applications, but the response underscores the growing role of independent media in political coverage.