Trump considers relocating White House press corps to new site

President Donald Trump indicated on Friday that he may move the White House press corps to a different location, potentially away from the executive residence. In a post on Truth Social, he described the current situation as noisy and suggested a transfer to a "less obnoxious location." The comment marks a concrete step in the administration's ongoing restructuring of media access within the White House complex.

The potential move involves the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, where dozens of reporters currently gather for daily briefings. Trump rejected reports that he planned to remove the room entirely to uncover a historic swimming pool. He called those accounts "Fake News" and wrote, "I NEVER even thought to do such a stupid thing!" However, he confirmed the idea of relocation was under consideration.

According to a report from The New York Times, Trump pitched the idea to Karoline Leavitt, his former press secretary, earlier this year. Leavitt’s tenure ended on August 27, and the idea did not advance during that time. Speaking on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday, Leavitt said Trump was "flirting" with restoring the pool. She noted that he "maybe, wants to restore it to all of its glory" but added that she did not know if he would execute the plan.

The pool beneath the briefing room was built in 1933 for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who swam in it to manage pain from polio. In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon covered the pool with a floor to create space for the growing press corps. The structure remains intact beneath the current briefing room. Trump has told aides he wants to bring the pool back, a move that would require physical changes to the West Wing.

The proposal arrives amid a tense relationship between the administration and the media. Last month, Trump barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO from the White House. A federal judge ruled the order likely unconstitutional, forcing the White House to restore access while the administration continues to fight the ruling. The conflict has shaped the political context for any structural changes to the press facilities.

Trump also clashed with Andrew Feinberg, a White House correspondent for The Independent, at an Oval Office event on Tuesday. As Feinberg attempted to ask a question, Trump said, "What's wrong with you? Are you a sick person? I actually think there's something wrong with you." The White House amplified the moment on social media, further illustrating the friction between the president and members of the press corps.

Any change to the briefing room would join a series of controversial alterations to the White House property since Trump returned to power. The administration has demolished the East Wing to build a new ballroom, covered the central Rose Garden lawn with concrete pavers, and constructed a helipad on the South Lawn. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.