Trump Ponders Moving White House Press Corps

President Donald Trump posted on Friday that he may move the White House press corps to a new site.

The remarks appeared on Truth Social, where the president described the current location as potentially "less obnoxious" elsewhere. He simultaneously rejected reports that he planned to remove the briefing room to uncover a historic swimming pool. "I NEVER even thought to do such a stupid thing!" he wrote in the post.

The speculation began earlier this week. The New York Times reported on Tuesday that Trump pitched the idea of moving journalists out of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room to Karoline Leavitt. The plan did not progress during Leavitt's time as press secretary, a role she left on August 27. The pool in question was constructed in 1933 for Franklin D. Roosevelt, who swam to manage symptoms of polio. Richard Nixon covered the pool with a floor in the 1970s to create space for the briefing room. The Times noted that Trump told aides he wanted to restore the water feature.

Leavitt addressed the rumors in a Friday interview on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher." She described the president as "flirting" with the idea of restoration. "Maybe, wants to restore it to all of its glory," she said. "I don't know if he'll do it."

The comments land amid ongoing friction between the administration and the media. Last month, Trump banned reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO from the White House. A federal judge later ruled the order likely unconstitutional, forcing the White House to reinstate their access. The administration is currently challenging that decision in court.

Tensions also surfaced on Tuesday during an Oval Office event. Trump interrupted Andrew Feinberg, a correspondent for The Independent, while he attempted to ask a question. "What's wrong with you? Are you a sick person? I actually think there's something wrong with you," Trump said. The White House shared the clip on social media.

Any structural changes would join a series of modifications to the executive residence since Trump returned to power last year. These include demolishing the East Wing for a ballroom, paving the Rose Garden lawn, and adding a helipad to the South Lawn. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.