Changes in White House Seating Aim to Amplify Diverse Media Voices

White building with columns behind a black fence.

The White House is taking control of the press briefing room seating chart from the White House Correspondents’ Association, opening the door to digital media outlets and influencers while reducing the prominence of legacy media.

Key Takeaways

The White House will implement its own seating chart for the briefing room in the coming weeks, ending the White House Correspondents’ Association’s traditional control.
The new arrangement will include digital reporters, influencers, and “new media” outlets like The Daily Wire, Axios, and Semafor alongside traditional press.
This restructuring aims to reflect modern media consumption habits, acknowledging the declining trust in legacy media.
Currently, few right-leaning outlets have seats except for Fox News, The Daily Caller, and the New York Post.
Critics worry this move could undermine press independence, while supporters see it as necessary adaptation to the evolving media landscape.

White House Reclaims Control of Briefing Room

The Trump administration has decided to take charge of press briefing room seating assignments, a role historically managed by the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA). This significant change will be implemented in the coming weeks as part of a broader effort to adapt to current media consumption trends. The restructuring will incorporate reporters from various platforms including digital, print, television, and notably, social media influencers, reflecting a fundamental shift in how Americans consume news and information in 2025.

The move comes amid growing recognition that the media landscape has dramatically evolved, with many Americans now getting their news from podcasts, blogs, and social media rather than traditional outlets. The current briefing room arrangement has become increasingly problematic, with overcrowding in the aisles and reporters without assigned seats struggling with visibility issues. The White House’s takeover of seating arrangements aims to address these practical concerns while also ensuring a more diverse range of media voices.

The White House Press Briefing room is owned by US taxpayers – not the leftist members of the elitist White House Correspondents Association

The idea they put a name plate on these chairs can call them "their seats" is an outrage

I say go to open seating https://t.co/jcND18UxOO

— Sean Spicer (@seanspicer) March 30, 2025

New Media Gets a Seat at the Table

Under the new plan, legacy outlets will see their prominence reduced to make room for digital media organizations and influencers. Currently, right-leaning outlets have limited representation in the briefing room, with only Fox News, The Daily Caller, and the New York Post holding permanent seats. The restructured seating chart will specifically include space for outlets like The Daily Wire, Axios, and Semafor, along with influencers who have significant audience reach but may lack traditional journalistic infrastructure.

This change aligns with the administration’s January announcement that it would accommodate “new media” journalists, including independent reporters, podcasters, and influencers. Among those mentioned for the new press rotation is Tim Pool, a right-wing YouTuber with a substantial following. The White House has expressed its intention to engage with all media outlets, not just legacy media, citing Gallup polls showing declining public trust in mass media institutions.

Concerns About Press Independence

The decision has raised concerns among some journalism organizations about the potential impact on press independence. Earlier this year, the White House also took control of pool rotations from the WHCA, prompting criticism from the organization’s leadership. This change affected the management of reporter rotations for events where the full press corps cannot be accommodated due to space constraints, such as Oval Office meetings or certain presidential trips.