Significant transformations are on the horizon for the White House once Donald Trump assumes the presidency—and this includes alterations to the briefing room.
Incoming Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt made an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity Thursday evening, where she shared with guest host (and previous Trump press secretary) Kayleigh McEnany her enthusiasm for embracing fresh voices in the briefing room—specifically the “podcasters and social media influencers” who contributed to Trump’s electoral success.
“President Trump navigated an unconventional media pathway during his campaign. This is a significant factor in his victory, as he engaged with podcasters, social media influencers, and other new voices that resonated with the American public,” Leavitt remarked.
“As President Trump’s press secretary, we’re going to explore innovative methods to incorporate those voices into the briefing room as well, which I believe will effectively continue to communicate the president’s message to the nation.”
During his campaign for reelection in 2024, Trump notably engaged with a variety of modern media figures.
In the concluding days, Trump featured on The Joe Rogan Experience, one of the largest podcasts globally.
This segment followed discussions with entertainers Theo Von and Andrew Schulz, streamer Adin Ross, the Nelk Boys podcast, and the Barstool show “Bussin’ With The Boys.”
Some of these personalities might replace conventional media reports during press briefings, if Donald Trump Jr.’s post-election remarks hold any significance.
In a recent podcast, Trump Jr. indicated that this idea was being actively explored.
“We have some news to break because I literally discussed this—I was on a flight back, traveling with my father after the SpaceX launch with Elon [Musk] last week,” he disclosed to Daily Wire commentator Michael Knowles. “We conversed about the podcast landscape and our associates, including Rogan and people like you.”
Inviting new media representatives into the White House isn’t entirely a novel concept either. In August, President Joe Biden welcomed social media influencers as part of a Creator Economy Conference hosted at the White House.
They were similarly embraced during August’s Democratic National Convention, where the organizers unfurled what they called the “blue carpet” for internet personalities.
