White House drops Andrew Feinberg as print pool reporter for Trump's Thursday trip, Semafor's Max Tani reports

As of 4:24 a.m. ET, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026

Update (Oct. 24, 2026, 3:39 p.m. ET): This story has been updated with President Trump's Saturday post on the White House press room and with CBS News' reporting on discussions about moving the press corps.

The White House told Andrew Feinberg, a White House correspondent for The Independent, on Wednesday, Oct. 21, that he would no longer serve as the print pool reporter on President Trump's trip on Thursday, Oct. 22, Semafor media editor Max Tani reported on X.

Feinberg confirmed to him that, "without explanation, the White House told him" on Wednesday "that he would no longer be the print pooler on Trump's Thursday trip," Tani wrote at 6:32 p.m. ET Wednesday. Tani said Feinberg had been slated to serve as the print pool reporter on Thursday.

Correspondents' association responds

At 7:08 p.m. ET Wednesday, the White House Correspondents' Association posted a statement on X from its president, Jacqui Heinrich.

"The White House Correspondents' Association strongly objects to the decision to restrict a journalist's coverage simply because the president didn't care for their questioning. That is retaliation," the statement said. "The American public's right to an independent press depends on reporters being able to do their jobs without fear that challenging the president will cut off their access."

Heinrich posted the same statement from her own X account at 7:06 p.m. ET Wednesday.

Trump on the press room

On Saturday, Oct. 24, Trump said in a Truth Social post that he would not bring back the swimming pool that lies beneath the White House press briefing room, while saying he may move reporters elsewhere. "There is a Fake News report out there that I am going to remove the White House Press Room and bring back the old Swimming Pool, which lies directly underneath. Although I may move the Fake News to a less obnoxious location, the old swimming pool will never be brought back. I NEVER even thought to do such a stupid thing!" Trump wrote, according to USA Today.

CBS News reported on Wednesday, Oct. 21, that Trump has discussed the possibility of moving the White House press corps to another building, according to two people close to the president. "No final decisions have been made, according to both sources," CBS reported.

"All options remain on the table, and we will make an announcement when appropriate," White House communications director Steven Cheung said in a statement to CBS News.

What is not known

The association's statement does not name the journalist whose coverage was restricted, and Tani's post does not say where Trump is traveling on Thursday.