Trump says he may move White House press corps to a 'less obnoxious' location

Donald Trump stated on Friday that he may relocate the White House press corps to a different site, describing a potential new location as "less obnoxious." The comments appeared in a post on Truth Social, where the president also addressed rumors regarding the physical structure of the executive residence.

Trump denied reports that he planned to remove the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room to restore a swimming pool hidden beneath it. He characterized those accounts as "Fake News" and wrote, "I NEVER even thought to do such a stupid thing!" While dismissing the pool restoration as a primary goal, he indicated that the dozens of journalists covering the administration might be moved away from their current spot.

The New York Times reported earlier this week that Trump had discussed moving journalists out of the briefing room with Karoline Leavitt, his former press secretary. Leavitt’s tenure ended on August 27, and the outlet noted that the relocation idea did not progress during her time in the role. In a Friday interview on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, Leavitt said Trump was "flirting" with the idea of restoring the pool to "all of its glory," though she remained uncertain if he would follow through.

The pool was constructed in 1933 for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used it to manage pain from polio. Richard Nixon covered the pool with a floor in the 1970s to create space for the growing press corps. The Times reported that Trump has told aides he wants to bring the water feature back into use.

These remarks follow a contentious period in relations between the White House and media outlets. Last month, Trump barred reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO from the building. A US federal judge subsequently ruled that the ban was likely unconstitutional, forcing the administration to restore access while it appeals the decision. Trump also confronted Andrew Feinberg, a correspondent for The Independent, at an Oval Office event on Tuesday, asking, "What's wrong with you? Are you a sick person?" The White House shared the moment on social media.

Any structural changes to the briefing room would join a series of modifications to the White House grounds since Trump returned to office last year. The administration has demolished the East Wing to construct a ballroom, covered the Rose Garden lawn with concrete pavers, and installed a helipad on the South Lawn. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday.