TikTokers, bloggers, and podcasters are now invited to apply for press passes to attend White House press briefings, according to Donald Trump’s Press Secretary, Karoline Leavitt. This move aims to reach audiences beyond traditional media outlets.
On Tuesday (January 28), Leavitt made her first appearance at the White House podium and announced that an additional seat would be reserved for “new media voices.” She stated, “If you are a TikTok content creator, blogger, or podcaster producing legitimate news content, you will be allowed to apply for press credentials.”
Leavitt, the youngest press secretary in history, expressed pride in opening up the White House briefing room to new media voices.
The White House press room has a total of 49 seats, typically allocated to various news organizations that are members of the White House Correspondents’ Association. If space permits, journalists without assigned seats can stand and report, as happened during Leavitt’s first briefing.
She also criticized traditional media outlets, claiming that many have spread false information about President Trump and his family. Leavitt emphasized that the administration will hold media accountable for such “false reporting.”
This was Leavitt’s first briefing, held eight days after Trump’s inauguration for his second term. Previously, she had primarily interacted with conservative outlets like Fox News.
During his campaign, Trump often bypassed major U.S. television networks, opting instead to appear on right-leaning podcasts, including the popular “Joe Rogan Experience.”