The current briefing room was constructed in 1970 above a pool that had been installed for Franklin D. Roosevelt. Former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer called the plan a "bad idea," arguing that maintaining the press's physical proximity to the administration is beneficial for logistics and the Secret Service.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Trump Proposes Replacing White House Press Room With Indoor Pool
US Politics6 hours ago
President Trump has discussed removing journalists from the executive mansion to install a swimming pool in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, The New York Times reports. The proposal would effectively evict the press corps from the building, relocating their offices to a different site to make room for the personal aquatic facility.
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