Podcasters and social media influencers will be permitted to apply for
credentials to cover the White House, the new press secretary announced
Tuesday.
In her first briefing, Karoline Leavitt told reporters that a wider
range of individuals will be eligible to apply for White House press
credentials.
“We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media
influencers and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this
White House,” Leavitt said.
That move to open up the White House is part of the administration’s
aim to significantly increase the number of journalists with White
House access, said Leavitt.
At 27 years old, Leavitt is the youngest person to hold the White House
press secretary job.
“The Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and
personalities, not just the legacy media that are seated in this room,”
Leavitt said. She cited a Gallup poll showing low trust in media in the
United States, particularly among younger people.
“As long as you are creating news content of the day and are a
legitimate, independent journalist, you are welcome to cover this White
House,” she added.
Leavitt said credentials will be given to those who meet the White
House’s criteria and pass a Secret Service background check.
The credentials, known as hard passes, make it easier for journalists
to attend press briefings and access the White House campus.
The White House Correspondents’ Association did not immediately reply
to VOA’s request for comment.
In his reelection campaign, Trump talked to several podcasters and
social media influencers, including many directed at conservative
audiences, in an effort to reach younger Americans.
At Tuesday’s briefing, Leavitt said the administration intends to
reinstate the credentials of about 440 journalists whose badges, she
said, were “wrongly revoked” by the Biden administration in 2023.
In May 2023, the Biden White House announced updated standards for a
yearly renewal of passes. Only one journalist who applied under the
revised criteria was denied a new pass, the White House told Politico
at the time.
During Tuesday’s briefing, The Associated Press asked Leavitt whether
she views her job as press secretary as “advocating on behalf of the
president or providing the unvarnished truth.”
AP reporters traditionally ask that question at a new press secretary’s
first briefing.
Leavitt responded, “I commit to telling the truth from this podium
every single day. I commit to speaking on behalf of the president.”
The press secretary added that she expects reporters to hold themselves
to the same standard, adding there “have been lies that have been
pushed by many legacy media outlets about this president.”
Trump has had a contentious relationship with news outlets that he
accuses of biased coverage. In recent months, he has filed several
lawsuits against U.S. media outlets over what he believes is unfair
coverage.
On Monday, lawyers for the board that awards Pulitzer Prizes asked a
Florida state court to pause the defamation lawsuit Trump filed against
the board members in 2022 until he is no longer president.
Trump accuses the Pulitzer board of defaming him by continuing to honor
The New York Times and The Washington Post for their coverage of
Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Some information in this report came from the Associated Press.
