Full Breakdown
Trump Mulls Evicting White House Reporters to Restore Historic Pool
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Proposal to Remove Press Corps and Reinstall Indoor Pool
President Donald Trump is again discussing the removal of the White House press corps from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room and the conversion of that space back into the indoor swimming pool added by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. Two senior aides close to the president confirmed the idea is under active consideration, though no final decision has been made.
Background & Context
The indoor pool was installed in 1933 for Roosevelt’s polio therapy. President Richard Nixon covered the pool in the early 1970s to create a larger briefing facility. During Trump’s first term, advisers such as former strategist Steve Bannon floated moving reporters to a townhouse near Lafayette Square, but the plan was rejected. The concept resurfaced in the 2024 transition and again in 2026, driven by a shrinking core staff and advisers urging harsher measures against outlets the president labels “fake news.”
Timeline
- Late August 2026 – Trump told outgoing press secretary Karoline Leavitt to move reporters out of the briefing room, describing the action as her “last legacy.”
- September 2026 – Trump posted side-by-side images on Truth Social showing the current briefing room and a rendered “FDR Pool,” captioned “Fake News” and “FDR Pool.”
- October 21 2026 – CBS News reported that two people close to the president confirmed discussions about relocating the press corps to another building.
Official Statements & Responses
White House communications director Steven Cheung said the administration is reviewing all options and will announce a decision when appropriate. A federal judge ordered the restoration of press credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico after a brief ban was deemed a likely First Amendment violation. The Justice Department later sent letters to major networks seeking information after they temporarily halted pooled television coverage in solidarity with CNN.
Data & Statistics
- The James S. Brady Press Briefing Room has served as the primary workspace for credentialed journalists for over a century.
- More than 70 journalists had their White House passes revoked during the recent ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico.
- The briefing room was originally a swimming pool before being covered in the early 1970s; the pool was drained in 1970 and the space repurposed for media use.
Why It Matters / Impact
Relocating the press corps would alter a long-standing symbol of the free press’s proximity to the executive branch. Moving journalists to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building or another off-site location could set a precedent that future presidents might inherit, potentially reshaping the logistical relationship between the administration and the media. The proposal also reflects a broader pattern of the Trump administration’s confrontations with news outlets, including lawsuits, credential bans and Pentagon access restrictions.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on who is championing the pool idea. One account cites former FHFA director Bill Pulte presenting foam-board renderings, while another highlights Steve Bannon’s earlier suggestion to move reporters to a townhouse. Neither source indicates an official decision, and the administration has not released a formal plan. Details about the proposed new location for the press corps remain unspecified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “America is rightly distrustful of the fake news media because they fabricate stories based off lies and sources who are not even privy to any type of information,” — Communications Director Steven Cheung.