Trump proposes moving White House reporters to a quieter site
The president suggested relocating the press corps while denying plans to remove the briefing room to restore a historic pool.
By Christopher Singh ·
President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he may move the White House press corps to a different location, describing the current setting as potentially too noisy. The announcement appeared in a post on Truth Social, where he addressed the future of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room and the historic swimming pool situated beneath it.
In the post, Trump rejected reports that he planned to eliminate the briefing room entirely to uncover the pool. He labeled those accounts "Fake News" and wrote, "I NEVER even thought to do such a stupid thing!" Instead, he indicated that the more than 100 reporters assigned to the White House could be shifted to a "less obnoxious location."
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Trump had discussed moving journalists out of the briefing room with former press secretary Karoline Leavitt. The outlet noted that the plan did not move forward during her tenure, which concluded on August 27. Leavitt appeared on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday, where she said Trump was "flirting" with the idea of restoring the pool. She added that he "maybe, wants to restore it to all of its glory," though she remained uncertain if he would follow through.
The pool was constructed in 1933 for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used it to manage pain from polio. In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon ordered a floor to be built over the water to create space for the briefing room. The pool remains accessible beneath the current structure.
The comments follow a period of friction between the administration and the media. Last month, Trump barred reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO from entering the White House. A federal judge ruled the order likely unconstitutional, forcing the White House to reinstate access while the administration appeals the decision.
Tensions also surfaced in the Oval Office on Tuesday when Trump interrupted Andrew Feinberg, a correspondent for The Independent. As Feinberg attempted to ask a question, Trump asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you a sick person? I actually think there's something wrong with you." The White House shared the interaction on social media platforms.
Any physical changes to the West Wing would join other alterations to the property since Trump returned to office last year. Those changes include the demolition of the East Wing for a new ballroom, the installation of concrete pavers in the Rose Garden, and the construction of a helipad on the South Lawn.
