TWH Restricts Wire Services Covering The President

The White House announced Tuesday that wire services like Reuters and Bloomberg News will no longer have a permanent spot in the small pool of reporters covering President Donald Trump, as the administration seeks greater control over who questions him and reports his statements in real time. This follows a court loss last week when the Associated Press (AP) challenged its exclusion from the press pool.

The press pool, typically around 10 outlets, shadows the president during Oval Office meetings, domestic and international trips, and other events. Under the new policy, wire services will rotate with about 30 other print and newspaper outlets, losing their customary fixed slot. Wire services, which provide real-time updates to other news organizations and financial markets, cover the White House more intensively than most.

Reuters, reaching billions through its subscribers, condemned the move as a threat to democratic access to independent, accurate news. "Any steps to limit access to the president undermine this principle," a Reuters spokesperson said, affirming their commitment to impartial coverage. AP called the decision a "grave disservice" to the public, noting wire services’ critical role in informing billions daily. Bloomberg did not immediately comment.

Historically, AP, Bloomberg, and Reuters were pool staples until the Trump administration barred AP in February for refusing to call the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America," as Trump demanded. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt then claimed authority to select pool members, a role previously held by the White House Correspondents’ Association.

A White House official told Reuters that Leavitt will now choose pool members daily to align with the president’s message and ensure subject-matter expertise, claiming eligibility will not depend on an outlet’s viewpoint. Last week, a federal judge ruled that the White House retaliated against AP, violating free speech protections, and ordered AP’s inclusion in events open to similar outlets while its lawsuit proceeds. The White House is appealing.