White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt holds her first news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House on January 28, 2025 in Washington, DC. Agence France-Presse
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s new press secretary on Tuesday invited TikTokers and podcasters to apply for White House press passes, in an effort to reach beyond the mainstream media that the US president often slams.
In her first time at the White House podium, Karoline Leavitt said an additional seat for “new media voices” had been reserved at the front of the cramped briefing room.
Article continues after this advertisementTrump has repeatedly criticized traditional media as the “enemy of the people,” and he credits a series of podcast appearances for aiding his return to the White House.
FEATURED STORIES GLOBALNATION South Korean passenger plane catches fire, 176 people evacuated GLOBALNATION Trump's 'Gen Z' press secretary Karoline Leavitt makes podium debut GLOBALNATION South Korea airplane fire leaves seven injuredREAD: Trump’s ‘Gen Z’ press secretary Karoline Leavitt makes podium debut
“As the youngest press secretary in history, thanks to President Trump, I take great pride in opening up this room to new media voices,” the 27-year-old Leavitt told a packed briefing room.
Article continues after this advertisement“Whether you are a TikTok content creator, a blogger, a podcaster, if you are producing legitimate news content… you will be allowed to apply for press credentials to this White House,” she said.
The agreement to buy energy from reactors built by Kairos Power came just weeks after word that Three Mile Island, the site of America’s worst nuclear accident, will restart operations to provide energy to Microsoft.
But oil prices fell as markets were unimpressed with a pledge by China’s finance minister to boost the world’s second-biggest economy.
Article continues after this advertisementThe shake-up was more modest that some news organizations had feared, after the president’s son Donald Trump Jr. talked in November about “opening up” the press room.
Article continues after this advertisementREAD: Trump gives TikTok 75-day grace period from US ban
The 49 seats in the room are allocated to a number of news organizations, including AFP, that are members of the White House Correspondents Association.
Article continues after this advertisementReporters without seats are allowed to stand at the side if there is space — as they did for Leavitt’s packed-out debut on Tuesday.
The new press secretary also vowed to hold reporters accountable for what she said were “lies” about Trump.
“We know for a fact there have been lies that have been pushed by many legacy media outlets in this country about this president, about his family, and we will not accept that,” she said.
The briefing at the iconic White House podium was Leavitt’s first since Trump was inaugurated eight days ago. She has so far largely spoken to conservative television outlets including Fox News.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Trump sidestepped interviews with some major US TV networks during the election campaignfilibet, opting instead to speak to several largely right-wing podcasts including the hugely popular Joe Rogan Experience.
lucky 777 casino real money READ NEXT White House urges TikTokers to apply for press passes ‘No food, nothing’: famine grips Sudan EDITORS' PICK Court issues hold departure order vs 30 cops in ‘staged’ drug bust Trump’s ‘Gen Z’ press secretary Karoline Leavitt makes podium debut WHO urges US to maintain support for HIV treatment programs MTRCB denies Pepsi Paloma movie is under review; submitted materials ‘incomplete’ House bill seeks 6-year term for village, SK officials Facing Bolivia’s economic crunch with toy houses, fake banknotes MOST READ Carpio fears PH pact on Ayungin Shoal may expand China’s reach Navy: Drone found off Cagayan contains data on body of water Maslog camp to appeal Sandiganbayan guilty verdict Pagadian City Councilor places 3rd in architecture board exam Follow @FMangosingINQ on Twitter --> View comments
