President Trump has discussed the possibility of moving the White House press corps to another building, according to two people close to the president, in a proposal first reported by The New York Times. Outside allies of the president have pushed the idea in recent weeks, including former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, though both sources said no final decisions have been made.
Reporters have maintained dedicated workspaces in the White House building for more than a century. The current press briefing room was constructed during the Nixon administration, replacing a swimming pool that dated back to Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency. Late last month, Trump posted an image to Truth Social suggesting the briefing room could be turned back into a swimming pool.
In response to the report, White House communications director Steven Cheung posted a statement saying America is rightly distrustful of the media and adding that all options remain on the table, with an announcement to be made when appropriate. A similar idea was floated ahead of Trump's first term, when officials discussed holding news conferences in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, but Trump ultimately did not follow through with those plans during his first term.