Politics

Trump’s New Attack Dog Turns Demure Press Briefing into MAGA Gone Wild

THREE RING CIRCUS

In her debut at the podium, Karoline Leavitt announced pro-Trump outlets can get front-row seats.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds her first news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Pro-MAGA news organizations are being welcomed into the White House in a sweeping move to transform the coverage Donald Trump receives in the media.

More than 440 press passes revoked by the Biden administration—many of them from right-leaning organizations—will be restored under Trump.

Once banished conservative outlets like The Daily Signal and the One America News Network, both longtime supporters of the president, could now get front-row seats.

At her inaugural press briefing on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said she would “work diligently” to give back the passes that were “wrongly revoked” by Biden’s communications team, which favored the traditional mainstream media big hitters like The New York Times, The Washington Post and the more established cable and TV networks.

Reporters attempt to ask a last question before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ends her first news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House.
Reporters attempt to ask a last question before White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ends her first news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Independent journalists, social media influencers, and podcasters will be given equal billing in the White House briefing room, and, in some cases, will be given greater access.

Leavitt, at 27, the youngest ever White House press secretary, said that “new media voices who produce news-related content and whose outlet is not already represented by one of the seats in the room,” will be joining the briefings.

“We welcome independent journalists, podcasters, social media influencers and content creators to apply,” she added.

A “new media” seat will be designated in the briefing room—although that was occupied by Axios co-founder and Beltway veteran Mike Allen for Tuesday’s debut session.

One of the first questions was asked by Matthew Boyle, Washington bureau chief for Breitbart News, the right-wing site previously led by MAGA hero and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon.

“Karoline, first off, thank you to you and President Trump for actually giving voices to media outlets that represent millions and millions of Americans,” said Boyle.

Brian Glenn, of the conservative Real America’s Voice and partner of MAGA Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, was also called upon to ask a question, which he preceded with fawning over Leavitt.

“You look great—you’re doing a great job,” he said, adding: “You talked about transparency, and some of us in this room know just how transparent President Trump has been the last five or six years. I think you’ll do the same. But my question is, do you think this latest incident with the President of Colombia is indicative of the global and powerful respect they have for President Trump moving forward not only to engage in economic diplomacy with these countries but also world peace?”

Leavitt’s first order of business was an update on the New Jersey drones—a message from the president that there was no story. They weren’t UFOs but authorized to fly by the Federal Aviation Authority. “This was not the enemy,” she said, a quote that was running minutes later on TikTok.

Leavitt quickly made the administration’s feelings about the traditional media clear, saying: “We know for a fact that there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in the country about this president, about his family and we will not accept that. We will call you out when we feel your reporting is wrong or there is misinformation about this White House.

“In keeping with this revolutionary media approach that President Trump deployed during the campaign, the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who are seated in this room.

“Millions of Americans, especially young people, have turned from traditional television outlets and newspapers to consume their news from podcasts, blogs, social media and other independent outlets,” she added. “It’s essential to our team that we share President Trump‘s message everywhere and adapt this White House to the new media landscape in 2025.

“It is a fact that Americans are consuming their news media from various different platforms, especially young people. As the youngest press secretary in history, thanks to President Trump, I take great pride in opening up this room to new media voices to share the president‘s message with as many Americans as possible.”

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