President Donald Trump has on multiple occasions raised the prospect of evicting journalists from the White House and converting the press briefing room into an indoor swimming pool, according to media reporting. Journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reported that Trump personally suggested removing the media from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room during an Oval Office meeting in August with then-White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Trump pitched the idea to Leavitt several times before her departure from the administration on August 27, suggesting the change could be part of her legacy. The plan involves restoring the indoor pool that had been installed for former President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which the administration of Richard Nixon later paved over to accommodate the growing press corps.
Trump later utilized social media to highlight the idea, sharing online images comparing the current briefing room to a luxurious, gold-trimmed swimming pool. While advisers have previously pushed back against displacing journalists due to potential political fallout and logistical challenges, some supporters have warmed to the concept. Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte reportedly created a visual mock-up of the proposed pool, despite lacking official jurisdiction over White House facilities.
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung did not dismiss the notion when questioned by reporters, stating that all options remain under consideration and an official announcement will be made if necessary. The proposal comes amid ongoing friction between Trump and the press corps, characterized by frequent public verbal clashes, accusations of unfair coverage, and previous legal battles regarding media access to the White House grounds.