White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has publicly defended the administration's decision to implement stricter controls on reporter access, stating she maintains a firm command over the dynamics within the prestigious briefing room.
A Firm Grip on the Briefing Room
In a recent interview on the podcast Pod Force One, released on a Wednesday, host Miranda Devine commended Leavitt for governing the briefing room with what she described as an "iron fist." The 28-year-old press secretary, who is the youngest in US history, acknowledged the praise. "I try, thank you," Leavitt responded, detailing her rigorous preparation process. "I prepare a lot for the briefings... I walk in there with a good grip on what they're going to ask, because I read and I watch and I prepare all day, all morning."
Calls for Professionalism Amid Tensions
Leavitt recognised that the environment can become heated, both during the public briefings and behind the scenes. "The press briefing room can be combative, and sometimes it is behind the scenes as well," she admitted. However, she emphasised a consistent call for her team to uphold high standards of conduct. Her directive is clear: "We need to be professional and get them facts, and nobody does that better than President Trump." She also expressed the White House's willingness to collaborate with journalists who are focused on writing good and accurate stories.
Security Concerns Drive New Restrictions
During Leavitt's tenure, the Trump administration has taken significant steps to tighten media access, linking these changes to security. The White House recently removed the pool rotation from the traditional oversight of the White House Correspondents' Association, bringing the selection process under direct administration control. Furthermore, reporters can no longer freely enter the Upper Press area without scheduled appointments.
Leavitt connected these access limits to heightened security protocols following the restructuring of the National Security Council under National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. "We felt it became very inappropriate for reporters to be loitering around sensitive information in our offices," she explained. She also alleged incidents of misconduct, stating, "We did, unfortunately, catch some unruly reporters recording us without our permission, listening in on our conversations, eavesdropping." Despite criticism, Leavitt claimed that many journalists have privately accepted the new arrangement.
Shifting Media Landscape and Viral Moments
While restricting some traditional media avenues, the administration has also made room for new voices. A new seat has been added in the briefing room for independent media outlets, and a dedicated new-media slot was created in the press pool rotation. Leavitt and her team have occasionally garnered attention for their sharp retorts. A notable instance last month saw Leavitt telling a HuffPost reporter, "Your mom did," when questioned about who selected Budapest for a planned Trump-Putin summit, a meeting that was later cancelled.
Leavitt also reflected on the evolving relationship between the media and President Trump, suggesting a shift in tone since his first term. She believes the election result on November 5th served as a wake-up call. "If 70 million Americans elected him, not once, but twice, maybe we should have a little more respect and treat this administration with a little more decency," she argued, indicating that the media now treats the President with more respect.
