National Press Club president Mike Balsamo also denounced the change, saying in a statement that it was a “direct challenge to the independence of a free press in the United States.” Additionally, he noted that the press pool “should never be replaced by a handpicked group of insiders” and urged the White House to “reverse course immediately and preserve the integrity of the press pool for the good of our democracy.”.
Amid the White House’s ongoing battle with the Associated Press over its demand that the wire service use “Gulf of America,” which has prompted the WHCA to privately push the administration to return access to the AP, Leavitt announced at Tuesday’s press briefing that it would now choose the press pool participants going forward.
Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich condemned the White House on Tuesday after it announced that it was seizing power from the White House Correspondents’ Association and would now handpick news outlets that will be allowed to participate in the presidential press pool.
Leavitt announced at Tuesday’s press briefing that the White House would now choose the press pool participants going forward.
“Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team.”.
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