Donald Trump Proposes Converting Press Briefing Room Into Pool

Donald Trump is considering the conversion of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room into an indoor swimming pool, a move that would relocate the White House press corps to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The proposal seeks to restore a pool originally installed by Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930s and later covered during the Richard Nixon administration. Trump recently shared images on Truth Social depicting the briefing room reimagined as a gilded pool.

Reports indicate Trump first suggested the eviction to former Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in August, framing the move as a potential last legacy for her before her departure on August 27. While senior aides initially argued that keeping the media nearby was beneficial, newer advisers have encouraged the president to take drastic measures to punish journalists due to his dissatisfaction with press coverage.

White House Communications Director Steven Cheung stated that all options remain on the table regarding the proposal. The plan emerges amid escalating tensions between the administration and the media, including a recent legal battle where Judge Timothy Kelly blocked an attempt to ban reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds. Trump also recently engaged in a heated exchange with reporter Andrew Feinberg, warning him to be careful during an Oval Office meeting.