Trump's new rules: Where have the major news outlets gone?

Trump's new rules: Where have the major news outlets gone?

In a controversial move, the White House has decided that news agency journalists will not be allowed on Air Force One during President Donald Trump's trip to the Middle East. This decision affects prominent news outlets such as Reuters, the Associated Press (AP) and Bloomberg. No reporters from these agencies are allowed on Air Force One, a key location for exchanges between the president and members of the media, raising troubling questions about transparency and the role of the press. This news was announced on May 13, 2025 on the Deutschlandfunk program, which reported that the Association of News Agencies sharply criticized the measure and pointed out that it harmed the right to information of all Americans.

Access to the press pool regulation was newly regulated in April 2025. What is known is that news agencies no longer have a permanent place in the group of journalists accompanying the president. Instead, places in the press pool are allocated on a rotating basis, meaning that representatives from these agencies must compete with other media, including print media. This change not only creates confusion, but also threatens the already established ties between the government and major news outlets that reach millions of readers worldwide.

Criticism of the new regulation

What's particularly alarming is that this is the first time in Press Corps history that no news agency correspondent will be traveling on Air Force One. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) expressed strong criticism of the restrictions on press work and expressed concern about possible retaliation for independent editorial decisions. This new regulation is seen as a potential threat to press freedom and objective reporting.

In addition, it is reported that the new government is granting privileged access to right-wing media, influencers, bloggers and podcasters, which are summarized under the term “new media”. This group now has an advantage over the traditional news outlets that once played a central role in the press pool. The decision to staff the pool now rests with Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, who had previously left those functions to the WHCA.

Consequences for reporting

The effects of these regulations are far-reaching. Events in the Oval Office that were of central importance to AP remain closed to this agency, even despite court orders. This de facto isolation means that reporting on important political events is severely limited and the public's trust in the media is jeopardized.

Freedom of the press could suffer a further crack, while access to political power is distributed unfairly. How these changes will impact the news landscape and democracy in the long term remains to be seen. In this context, the Association of News Agencies is calling for a return to fair reporting that is accessible to all citizens. Current developments cast a shadow on freedom of information in the largest democratic country in the world.