White House to open media access to podcasters, influencers

WASHINGTON — Podcasters and social media influencers will be permitted to apply for credentials to cover the White House, the new press secretary announced Tuesday.

In her first briefing, Karoline Leavitt told reporters that a wider range of individuals will be eligible to apply for White House press credentials.

“We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers and content creators to apply for credentials to cover this White House,” Leavitt said.

That move to open up the White House is part of the administration’s aim to significantly increase the number of journalists with White House access, said Leavitt.

At 27 years old, Leavitt is the youngest person to hold the White House press secretary job.

“The Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media that are seated in this room,” Leavitt said. She cited a Gallup poll showing low trust in media in the United States, particularly among younger people.

“As long as you are creating news content of the day and are a legitimate, independent journalist, you are welcome to cover this White House,” she added.

Leavitt said credentials will be given to those who meet the White House’s criteria and pass a Secret Service background check.

The credentials, known as hard passes, make it easier for journalists to attend press briefings and access the White House campus.

The White House Correspondents’ Association did not immediately reply to VOA’s request for comment.

In his reelection campaign, Trump talked to several podcasters and social media influencers, including many directed at conservative audiences, in an effort to reach younger Americans.

At Tuesday’s briefing, Leavitt said the administration intends to reinstate the credentials of about 440 journalists whose badges, she said, were “wrongly revoked” by the Biden administration in 2023.

In May 2023, the Biden White House announced updated standards for a yearly renewal of passes. Only one journalist who applied under the revised criteria was denied a new pass, the White House told Politico at the time.

During Tuesday’s briefing, The Associated Press asked Leavitt whether she views her job as press secretary as “advocating on behalf of the president or providing the unvarnished truth.”

AP reporters traditionally ask that question at a new press secretary’s first briefing.

Leavitt responded, “I commit to telling the truth from this podium every single day. I commit to speaking on behalf of the president.”

The press secretary added that she expects reporters to hold themselves to the same standard, adding there “have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets about this president.”

Trump has had a contentious relationship with news outlets that he accuses of biased coverage. In recent months, he has filed several lawsuits against U.S. media outlets over what he believes is unfair coverage.

On Monday, lawyers for the board that awards Pulitzer Prizes asked a Florida state court to pause the defamation lawsuit Trump filed against the board members in 2022 until he is no longer president.

Trump accuses the Pulitzer board of defaming him by continuing to honor The New York Times and The Washington Post for their coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Some information in this report came from the Associated Press.