The White House press secretary post became vacant after Katie Zacharia stepped down five days into the role following criticism of her background

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A U.S. federal judge issued an order, ruling that the Trump administration's ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico reporters was likely unconstitutional

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White House Communications Director Steven Cheung posted a video on X suggesting Nicki Minaj could be the next White House press secretary

President Donald Trump stated on Truth Social on October 25, 2026, that relocating the White House press corps from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room would free up badly needed White House space

The New York Times reported on October 20, 2026, that President Donald Trump previously urged then-White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in August 2026 to move journalists out of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

President Donald Trump labeled reports that he intends to restore the historic underground swimming pool beneath the press briefing room as fake news, denying any plan to bring it back

The Trump administration prohibited journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House grounds in September 2026

White House Correspondents' Association President Jacqui Heinrich accused the White House of acting in retaliation against Andrew Feinberg by revoking his press pool credentials and restricting journalist access

President Donald Trump repeatedly complained that incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan was threatened by a candidate with the same name and criticized Alaska's ranked-choice voting system

Katie Zacharia replaced Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary before leaving the position in less than a week

President Donald Trump barred the Associated Press from the White House in February 2025 after the outlet declined to alter its geographic terminology regarding the Gulf of Mexico

Former White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated in an October 2026 interview that President Donald Trump was flirting with the idea of restoring the historic indoor swimming pool installed in 1933 under Franklin D. Roosevelt

President Donald Trump stated that he personally directed the Department of Justice to file the federal lawsuit regarding the Alaska Senate election

Nicki Minaj previously served as a celebrity judge for the Small Business Administration's Million Dollar Pitch Competition during President Donald Trump's administration

A delegation of 12 Catholic bishops met with President Donald Trump and White House staff in the Oval Office on October 22, 2026, where staff took photos and recorded a prayer video

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob stated that White House staff published video and photos of the October 22 Oval Office prayer without the consent of the 12 participating Catholic bishops

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob issued a public apology statement expressing sadness that prayer was manipulated as a political photo opportunity by the White House on October 22

Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob stated that the Heritage Foundation arranged the October 22 White House visit under expectations of a private discussion and private prayer with President Donald Trump

Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines stated that the White House visit by 12 Catholic bishops on October 22 was exploited for partisan political purposes less than two weeks before the midterm elections

U.S. President Donald Trump denied involvement in imposing Starlink restrictions and stated on October 22, 2026, that he called Elon Musk to ask that the limitations be lifted

The White House invitation to Catholic bishops, extended in September 2026, offered discussions on immigration enforcement, religious worker visas, abortion, and tax credits for private education