Trump suggests moving White House press corps to a quieter venue

President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he may relocate the White House press corps to a new site.

In a Truth Social post, the president described the potential destination as a "less obnoxious location." He simultaneously rejected reports that he planned to dismantle the briefing room to uncover a historic swimming pool, labeling such accounts "Fake News." Trump wrote that he had never considered such an action, calling the idea "stupid."

The comments follow a Tuesday report from The New York Times, which stated that Trump had discussed moving journalists out of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room with his former press secretary, Karoline Leavitt. Leavitt, who served until August 27, told HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" on Friday that Trump was "flirting" with the idea of restoring the pool. She noted that she did not know if the project would proceed.

The pool was constructed in 1933 for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used it to alleviate pain from polio. In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon installed a floor over the water to create space for the expanding media presence. The structure remains beneath the current briefing room floor.

The proposal arrives amid strained relations between the administration and the press. Last month, Trump barred reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO from the White House. A federal judge ruled the order likely unconstitutional, forcing the White House to reinstate access, though the administration is appealing the decision.

Tensions escalated further on Tuesday in the Oval Office. Trump questioned the mental state of Andrew Feinberg, The Independent's White House correspondent, as Feinberg attempted to pose a question. Trump asked, "What's wrong with you? Are you a sick person? I actually think there's something wrong with you." The White House shared the exchange on social media.

Any modification to the briefing room would join other structural changes made since Trump returned to power in 2025. These include the demolition of the East Wing for a ballroom, the paving of the Rose Garden lawn, and the construction of a helipad on the South Lawn. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.