United States President, Donald Trump, has indicated plans to relocate journalists covering the White House, suggesting that the press corps could be moved to a different location outside the executive residence.
Trump made the suggestion in a social media post on Friday, while dismissing reports that he intended to demolish the existing White House press briefing room to restore a historic indoor swimming pool beneath it.
“I NEVER even thought to do such a stupid thing!” he wrote on Truth Social, describing the reports as fake news.
However, Trump said he could move the journalists to what he described as a “less obnoxious location”, reviving concerns over his strained relationship with members of the media.
The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Trump had previously discussed relocating journalists from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room with his former press secretary, Karoline Leavitt.
The proposal was not implemented during her tenure, which ended on August 27.
The development comes amid growing tensions between the Trump administration and several media organisations.
Last month, the White House barred journalists from CNN, MS NOW and POLITICO from its premises, prompting concerns about press freedom.
A US federal judge subsequently ruled that the restrictions were likely unconstitutional and ordered the administration to restore the outlets’ access.
The Trump administration is continuing to challenge the ruling.
Trump has also repeatedly criticised journalists whose reporting he considers unfavourable.
On Tuesday, he confronted The Independent’s White House correspondent, Andrew Feinberg, during an Oval Office event as the reporter attempted to ask a question.
“What’s wrong with you? Are you a sick person? I actually think there’s something wrong with you,” Trump said.
The White House later amplified the exchange on social media.
The proposed relocation would be another potential change to the White House under Trump’s second administration.
Since returning to office in 2025, he has overseen the demolition of the East Wing to make way for a new ballroom, the installation of concrete paving in the Rose Garden and the construction of a helipad on the South Lawn.
The indoor swimming pool at the centre of the reports was built in 1933 for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used swimming to help ease soreness associated with his polio.
In the 1970s,
President Richard Nixon had a floor built over the pool to create a briefing room for the expanding White House press corps.
Leavitt acknowledged on Friday that Trump was considering restoring the pool but said it was unclear whether he would proceed with the project.
“He just, maybe, wants to restore it to all of its glory. I don’t know if he’ll do it,” she said during an appearance on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.
The White House had not responded to Al Jazeera’s request for comment at the time of publication.
