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The Trump administration is reshaping its approach to media interaction, evident from the inaugural “influencer meeting” hosted by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday.
This gathering mirrored a typical press briefing, yet it diverged significantly—it took place outside the usual briefing room and featured a more selective audience of notable pro-Trump media figures, including former Press Secretary Sean Spicer.
Leavitt emphasized that the White House intends to engage with a broad spectrum of media outlets, moving beyond traditional legacy media that has historically covered the administration. “The Trump White House will communicate with all personalities, not merely those in established media,” she asserted.
With a growing number of Americans now relying on podcasts and social media for news, the administration aims to adapt to contemporary media consumption trends. Leavitt noted, “It’s well past time the White House press operation reflected the media habits of the American people in 2025, not 1925.”
In the front row was Spicer, seated next to Arynne Wexler, a conservative influencer boasting approximately 400,000 followers across platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram. Wexler opened the meeting, sharing a lighthearted remark about Florida’s deportation policies, which elicited laughter before she pivoted to more serious inquiries regarding trans women in sports.
The first “question” to Leavitt during the WH “new media” briefing: “I can attest to the deportations in Florida. My Uber drivers finally speak English again.” pic.twitter.com/pgGxAWcxg9
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 28, 2025
Discussion topics spanned issues such as the border wall, recent arrests of British citizens for social media posts, and tax reform. The meeting took place in the White House South Court Auditorium, a space Leavitt claimed was utilized by former President Joe Biden as a “fake Oval Office.” Influencer Rogan O’Handley, known as “DC Draino” on X, praised Leavitt for her performance in press engagements.
During the meeting, Spicer queried why President Trump is willing to engage with critics like Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief of The Atlantic. Leavitt responded affirmatively, stating, “The president is unafraid, inspired by competition, and enjoys face-to-face conversations. That’s one of his strengths.”
This first “influencer meeting” is part of broader changes in the Trump administration’s media relations. Earlier this year, Leavitt introduced a specific “new media” seat for influencers and non-traditional reporters during her briefings. TheWrap examined some of these figures, which included individuals like Natalie Winters from Steve Bannon’s “War Room” and The Daily Wire’s Mary Margaret Olohan. Last month, the White House also launched “Podcast Row,” allowing right-leaning podcasters to engage with administration officials.
In a notable dispute, the White House has faced off with the Associated Press regarding its refusal to adopt the term “Gulf of America,” in line with President Trump’s executive order on renaming the Gulf of Mexico in official documents. The Trump press team restricted AP’s access to significant locations, including the Oval Office, after the outlet’s decision. However, a federal judge granted the AP an injunction that restored its rights. Subsequently, the administration decided to alter press pool access protocols for wire news services.
Source
www.thewrap.com