President-elect Donald Trump’s team is reportedly floating the idea of shaking up the White House press briefing room. As expected, members of the press are already whining about it.
Team Trump is looking at replacing legacy media outlets in the briefing room’s front rows to make room for independent news organizations, at least some of which might be friendlier to the incoming administration, according to The Hill.
People close to Trump have said in recent days he should dramatically change who gets access to the president, suggesting podcasters, internet personalities and media deemed more friendly to him could replace outlets like the major television networks, The New York Times and The Washington Post in the room’s front rows.
Reporters covering The White House, in conversations with The Hill this week, described a feeling of annoyance, frustration and dread at such an idea.
Several reporters declined to comment on the record or requested anonymity to speak candidly about the possibility of a drastically changed press room and the likely kerfuffle it would spark.
One White House reporter slammed the idea, saying, “It would be a total mess” and that they “would expect people would probably boycott the briefings, though that would put certain outlets in a tough spot deciding if they want to go along with what the Trump people are trying to pull.”
Karoline Leavitt, Trump’s pick for White House press secretary, added gallons of fuel to the fire when she dared to suggest that decorum and a tougher approach to media would be central to her approach to the position. “We hope there will be decorum, certainly, and we will try to instill that. But we’re not shy of the hostile media,” she said.