By Charles Switzer
6:33pm PST, Feb 26, 2025
Jacqui Heinrich Pushes Back on White House Press Pool Takeover
Fox News senior White House correspondent
Jacqui Heinrich publicly condemned the
Trump administration's unprecedented decision to seize control of the White House press pool. The announcement, made by Press Secretary
Karoline Leavitt, grants Trump the power to determine which outlets cover the president's movements — authority traditionally held by the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA).
Heinrich, who serves on the WHCA board, took to X to express her concerns, arguing that this move consolidates power within the White House rather than giving it "back to the people."
Here are four key points the journalist made.
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MAGA Fans Cheer — Heinrich Fires Back
While many
MAGA supporters celebrated Trump's decision as a blow to the mainstream media, Heinrich was quick to shut down their enthusiasm.
One user wrote, "The gatekeeping is over. Get over it," to which Heinrich responded: "If you think MAGA benefits from this in the long term, you're dead wrong. You would not have trusted any Democratic admin to pick its own pool — but now that door is open."
She pointed out that future Democratic administrations could use the same precedent to control media access, warning that such a shift would ultimately backfire on conservatives.
Social Media Reactions: Support and Criticism
Heinrich's stance sparked heated debates on social media, with users both supporting and challenging her position.
Conservative commentator
Ian Miles Cheong posted, "WHCA is just upset they lost control over the narrative," while journalist
Aaron Rupar countered, "This is a dangerous move that should worry anyone who believes in a free press, regardless of their political stance."
Meanwhile, Heinrich found support from her
Fox News colleague Bret Baier, who wrote, "This isn't about politics — it's about transparency. Every administration should be held accountable by a press pool that isn't handpicked by the White House."
WHCA Defends Its Role Amidst Controversy
Heinrich emphasized that the WHCA has long fought for greater media access, ensuring that all forms of media — television, radio, print and digital — are represented.
"WHCA's job is to advocate for the MOST access possible," she explained, countering claims that the organization engages in partisan gatekeeping. She also noted that previous administrations, including Democratic ones, have sought to limit media access, and that WHCA has consistently fought against such moves, regardless of which party is in power.
Heinrich Stands Her Ground Against Critics
As backlash continued, Heinrich remained firm in her position.
When another user accused her of protecting the mainstream media's monopoly on coverage, she responded: "The WHCA is elected by journalists, not the government. The alternative is letting politicians pick and choose which media outlets cover them. That's not democracy."
While the Trump administration has yet to clarify how the new press pool selection process will work, Heinrich's strong opposition highlights the growing tensions between the White House and the media under Trump's leadership, even from fellow conservatives.
