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The White House on Tuesday refused to shut down a report that Donald Trump wants to swap the press briefing room for a swimming pool, saying the president is keeping every option open and will announce a decision when the time is right.
White House declines to dismiss reports about restoring the FDR pool
Communications Director Steven Cheung gave the clearest signal yet that the proposal is alive. Asked about the Times story, he told the newspaper that “all options remain on the table,” and he attacked the press in the same statement. “America is rightly distrustful of the fake news media because they fabricate stories based off lies and sources who are not even privy to any type of information,” Cheung said. “All options remain on the table, and we will make an announcement when appropriate.”
The report, by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan of The New York Times, claimed Trump raised the idea of relocating the press corps during one of his last meetings with then-Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. He pitched the move as her “last legacy,” according to the outlet, but it stalled at the time. The report also said Trump floated the plan to Leavitt more than once during his second term. He told aides he wanted to revive the indoor pool built by Franklin D. Roosevelt and shift reporters to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. Richard Nixon turned that pool into the briefing room in 1970.
Donald Trump himself hinted at the idea in September, when he posted a side-by-side photo on Truth Social showing the press room beside an indoor pool. His caption read, “Fake News Before, FDR Pool After.” Now, the latest talk lands while the press secretary’s post sits empty and Trump’s fights with the media escalate. Last week, Judge Timothy Kelly blocked the administration from restoring its ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters entering White House grounds.