Trump hints at White House press corps relocation

President Donald Trump rejected a report claiming the consideration of a White House press briefing room renovation, but left the door open to relocating the media corps after a series of press restrictions.The New York Times published a report earlier this week alleging that Trump proposed the idea for the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room renovation to former press secretary Karoline Leavitt before her departure in August.Trump denied the claim in a post to Truth Social on Saturday morning. The president declined to name the New York Times by name, as he continues to be embroiled in a battle against the “fake news” outlet, but called the idea a “stupid thing.” “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,” Trump wrote. “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!”The post also revealed he is weighing a move of the White House press corps to a new location on the grounds, but did not disclose further details.The current White House briefing room was originally a swimming pool built by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, but later renovated under Richard Nixon into a briefing room for journalists.According to the New York Times report, Trump resurfaced the relocation proposal from his first term.JUDGE EXTENDS MS NOW, CNN, AND POLITICO’S WHITE HOUSE ACCESS INDEFINITELYLeavitt said Friday that Trump had been “flirting” with the idea.“Look, it was a swimming pool at one time. In fact, if you go down the stairs, underneath where the briefing room is, you can actually see the tile from where the pool used to be,” Leavitt said during an appearance on HBO’s Real Time With Bill Maher. “So, he just maybe wants to restore it to all of its glory. I don’t know if he’ll do it, but he’s been flirting with [the idea].”