In a controversial move to tighten control over presidential media coverage, the White House has removed Reuters, Bloomberg, and other major wire services from their long-held permanent spots in the press pool covering President Donald Trump. Instead, these outlets will now rotate among a larger group of about 30 media organizations.
The decision follows a legal win for the Associated Press, which was previously excluded from the pool after refusing to adopt politically motivated language. Critics argue the change undermines press freedom and limits public access to real-time, impartial reporting—particularly for local and international outlets that rely on wire services for breaking news from Washington.
Reuters and the AP have condemned the decision, calling it a blow to democratic transparency. The White House maintains that access will now be decided daily by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, based on audience targeting and subject expertise, not editorial stance. A federal judge has already ruled in favor of AP’s challenge, citing free speech violations, but the White House plans to appeal.
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