White House Moves to Overhaul Press Briefing Room Seating, Diminishing Power of Left-Leaning WHCA
In a significant move to reshape the relationship between the press and the presidency, the Trump White House is reportedly finalizing plans to reclaim control over the seating arrangement in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room—a responsibility long held by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which has often favored legacy and left-leaning outlets.
The current system, operated by the WHCA, has systematically pushed conservative and independent media to the fringes of the room, making it more difficult for outlets like The Gateway Pundit, One America News Network, and Real America’s Voice to regularly engage with the press secretary or participate meaningfully in daily briefings.
That may soon change.
A New Era of Access for New Media
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt recently announced the creation of a “New Media” rotation for pool coverage, expanding access to digital-first outlets and alternative media voices previously excluded from elite press pools. The New Media pool now allows participation in Oval Office events, travel aboard Air Force One, and other high-level presidential moments.
The White House is now preparing to expand this access model to the seating chart in the briefing room itself—giving conservative, digital, and independent media outlets a stronger, permanent voice in the room.
“This administration is shaking up Washington in more ways than one,” Leavitt said last month. “That’s what we were elected to do.”
A Blow to the Associated Press
This shift comes on the heels of a dramatic standoff between the Associated Press (AP) and the White House. The AP was removed from the Oval Office press pool earlier this month for refusing to comply with the President’s executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico the ‘Gulf of America.’
The AP responded by requesting an emergency Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from a federal judge, seeking to restore access to the White House. That request was denied, and a second hearing held last Thursday has yet to result in a ruling from U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, a Trump appointee.
What the New Layout May Look Like
According to an exclusive Axios report, the restructured seating chart will reflect modern media consumption metrics rather than historical prestige. The plan includes:
- A mix of traditional TV, print, and digital outlets
- Inclusion of new media voices and independent digital platforms
- Space for influencers and emerging platforms like NOTUS, Axios, and Punchbowl News
“The goal isn’t merely favorable coverage,” a senior official told Axios. “It’s truly an honest look at consumption. Influencers are important—but the ability to consistently cover the White House is also part of the metrics.”
While legacy outlets like the New York Times, CNN, and MSNBC will still be represented, they are expected to lose their default front-row status, which for years has allowed them to dominate the conversation in briefings.
“We want to balance disruption with responsibility,” the official added.
Implications for the Press—and the Presidency
This move marks a paradigm shift in how the executive branch interacts with the media, and a sharp departure from the WHCA’s longstanding dominance. Under past administrations, the WHCA has operated as an unelected gatekeeper, routinely sidelining outlets critical of establishment narratives.
The Trump White House’s decision to level the playing field may draw backlash from entrenched media players, but for millions of Americans seeking alternative viewpoints, it represents a restoration of fairness and transparency in the White House press corps.
As the new seating chart takes shape, all eyes will be on how the administration balances media disruption with institutional access—and whether this signals a permanent end to the WHCA’s unchecked influence.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for updates as the new briefing room plan is formally unveiled.
