Who Controls White House Press Access?

For decades, the White House Correspondents’ Association quietly controlled the rotating 'pool' that determines which outlets get scarce access to the president. The Trump administration asserted formal authority over this taxpayer‑funded venue, demoting AP and taking over the rotation, arguing there’s no constitutional right to specific access. This reframes 'press freedom' disputes as fights over who sets access rules—elected officials or a private guild—and raises risks of partisan tilting if norms aren’t rebuilt. — It forces a clearer line between constitutional press rights and institutional access norms, with consequences for how future administrations and media arbiters share power.