White House "Influencers and Creators Also Allowed Access and Coverage"

The second term of Donald Trump's White House has announced that it will open the doors for social media (SNS) influencers and other 'one-person media' to access the White House and cover briefings.

The White House in Washington DC, the capital of the United States. Photo by Yonhap News

White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated at her first briefing held in the White House press briefing room on the 28th (local time), "The White House strongly believes in the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of the press," adding, "We will open this briefing room to new media producing news-related content and to media outlets that have not secured seats in this room."

She said, "We welcome independent journalists, podcast operators, SNS influencers, and content creators to apply for press passes to cover the White House," and "We will grant White House access credentials to those who pass the screening."

Levitt also introduced efforts to restore access credentials for 440 journalists whose White House passes were revoked during the Biden administration.

Levitt further mentioned that the seats to the right of the press secretary (from the press secretary's perspective) at the front of the briefing room?where mainly public officials from the White House press office used to sit during past press briefings?will be designated as 'new media seats' for various non-traditional media personnel.

She then granted the first opportunity to ask questions to Axios and Breitbart, online media outlets boasting considerable influence.

The White House's opening of doors to one-person media and others is interpreted as reflecting President Trump's media perspective and preferences, who has had conflicts with established media represented by The New York Times (NYT) and CNN.

President Trump has been increasing direct communication with the public while taking a stance against many large established media outlets that have criticized him. At the same time, he is actively utilizing and empowering new media and SNS influencers, who are especially popular among younger generations and his supporters.