Sean Spicer Joins White House Briefing as 'New Media' Reporter

The White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2025 departed from tradition by forgoing both a presidential appearance and a comedian, instead focusing on journalistic integrity and the essential role of a free press amid ongoing tensions with President Trump. The event honored journalistic excellence and highlighted the difficulties reporters face in securing access to the administration, underscored by legal disputes over press rights. Outside the official dinner, Washington’s media and political elite gathered at various parties where concerns about the Trump administration’s approach to the press, and broader anxieties over the country's direction, permeated conversations. These gatherings took place against the backdrop of President Trump’s second term, which has been marked by a reality-TV style approach to governance and heightened efforts to embrace new media voices while marginalizing traditional outlets. The administration’s push to include social media influencers in press briefings—exemplified by the return of former Press Secretary Sean Spicer as a reporter—reflects a strategic shift in media engagement. Collectively, these developments illustrate a transformed relationship between the White House and the press, with both symbolic and practical implications for transparency and democratic accountability.