White House Blasted for 'Censorship' as New Press Pool Rules Are Announced: 'Who Exactly Benefits From Fewer Questions?

The White House is being blasted over newly announced changes to the presidential press pool selection process, with many online accusing the Trump administration of curating access to shield itself from tough questions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt revealed the changes Tuesday in a video posted to X, announcing that the White House press team—not the White House Correspondents' Association—will now determine which journalists participate in the press pool.

"As you all know, for decades, a group of DC-based journalists, the White House Correspondents' Association, has long dictated which journalists get to ask questions of the President of the United States in these most intimate spaces. Not anymore," Leavitt said. "Moving forward, the White House press pool will be determined by the White House press team."

She added that while legacy media outlets would still be included, "new voices" would now be welcomed into the pool.

Many were quick to call out the move as an attempt to control the narrative.

"Oh, Karoline Leavitt, you're really out here playing revolutionary, aren't you?" one user mocked.

"We're giving the power back to the people!"—except, nope, it's just her and the White House Press Team handpicking who gets a seat now."

"Today we're taking the first steps that every fascist government does. Controlling the narrative by dictating who asks questions," another person tweeted.

A slew of comments noted the move as a direct threat to press freedoms.

"Americans want a free press, not a group of narrative tellers carefully handpicked by the White House itself. The American people want accountability—a free, independent press is part of that," one stated.

Another skeptic added, "Translation: to combat any type of criticism or pushback, we are only going to allow outlets who align with our narratives and push forward any propaganda we want to push."

"So, to be clear: 'Giving power back to the people' means handing exclusive control of the press room to your own PR team? You didn't even try to disguise it as anything other than censorship. Who exactly benefits from fewer tough questions—the public, or just your boss?" another user asked.

Pleas were also directed at the White House Correspondents' Association.

"This is what happens when the White House Correspondents' Association fails to band together to boycott against @PressSec in support of @AP. You can't be pro-First Amendment while allowing the @PressSec to run roughshod over freedom of the press. Show some courage," one critic tweeted.