The outlet’s Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reported that Trump personally suggested that the media be removed from the James S. President Donald Trump has more than once floated the idea of booting reporters from the White House and turning the press briefing room into an indoor swimming pool, a recent report from The New York Times claimed. Brady Press Briefing Room to then-White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt during an Oval Office meeting in August.
Three sources familiar with the discussions told the outlet that the US President pitched the plan to Leavitt several times before she left the administration on August 27. Most recently, on Tuesday, October 20, Trump scolded a reporter during an Oval Office exchange. Because they are worried about logistical problems and possible political fallout, haberman and Swan reported that Trump’s advisers have historically resisted removing journalists from the White House.
He became visibly annoyed during his exchange with Feinberg, and asked the reporter to “be careful” when he questioned why a new whistleblower program offered a 1% commission when the False Claims Act can award whistleblowers at least 10%. Trump said. Vice President JD Vance later said the whistleblower question was a “fundamentally dishonest question,” per KUTV.
Trump reportedly wishes to restore the indoor pool installed for former President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Former President Richard Nixon’s administration later covered it to make room for the press. However, more allies are now reportedly encouraging Trump, including Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, who is believed to have prepared a visual mock-up of the proposed pool. He reportedly did so even though he does not have any official responsibility for White House facilities. The journalist was later identified by the US President’s Rapid Response Team as Andrew Feinberg, a correspondent for the Independent. The heated exchange took place as Trump took questions from reporters at the White House. Trump rebuked Feinberg again when he began asking about the president’s golf courses. “Quiet, quiet! “What’s wrong with you? Are you a sick person? I actually think there’s something wrong with you.
