President Trump confirmed that he is considering moving White House reporters from their longtime briefing room.
Tucked inside a lengthy Sunday social media rant against comedian Bill Maher, Mr. Trump said he may relocate the media out of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room but will not put an indoor swimming pool in its place.
“I am not building a swimming pool in the White House Briefing Room, and never had any intention of doing so,” the president said. “I am thinking about moving the Press, and putting them in a different location, but I will use that location for very badly needed space.”
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White House communications director Steven Cheung also said that “all options remain on the table.”
The New York Times had reported that the president pushed former press secretary Karoline Leavitt in August to remove reporters from the West Wing room.
Ms. Leavitt, however, departed on Aug. 27. Katie Zacharia, her successor, left the job in October after five days, and the position remains vacant.
Mr. Trump dismissed the idea that he intended to tear down the White House briefing room to revive the historic indoor therapy pool originally built for Franklin D. Roosevelt.
On Saturday, he called the report “Fake News” and stated he had never “even thought to do such a stupid thing,” confirming that “the old swimming pool will never be brought back.”
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