Trump Weighs Moving Press From Briefing Room
The president says he plans to relocate reporters to free up space for other administrative functions, clarifying he does not intend to rebuild the historical pool beneath the room.
By Justin Barnes ·
President Donald Trump is considering relocating the White House press corps from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room to create space for other government needs. The announcement came on Sunday via Truth Social, where the president stated he is thinking about moving the media to a different location.
In the post, Trump explicitly rejected the idea of constructing a swimming pool in the briefing room, a concept that gained traction following a New York Times report published on Oct. 20. He wrote, "I am not building a swimming pool in the White House Briefing Room, and never had any intention of doing so." Instead, he indicated the space would be used for what he described as very badly needed areas.
The president had previously addressed the pool speculation in a Saturday post, calling the notion of restoring the subterranean pool a "stupid thing." He noted that while he might move the media to a "less obnoxious location," the old swimming pool would not return.
The White House referred media inquiries to Trump's Sunday statement when reached for additional comment. The briefing room sits above the original indoor pool, which opened on June 2, 1933. That pool was funded by a New York Daily News campaign for President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who used swimming as therapy for polio.
President Richard Nixon later ordered the construction of the press briefing room above the pool to accommodate the rise of television news coverage. Trump has overseen several major renovations on Pennsylvania Avenue, including the installation of two 88-foot flagpoles in July. He also highlighted these projects during a rally in Florida last Friday, describing them as beautiful additions to the estate.
The current renovation efforts have drawn criticism from Democratic leaders and progressive media figures. This pushback intensified in October 2025 when construction began on a new White House ballroom, a project that remains a focal point of debate regarding the administration's use of the executive residence.
Source: Fox News
