The establishment of a presidential press pool was once a hallmark of transparency, an assurance to the American people that, no matter where the President was, a fair group of journalists would be there, ready to inform the nation of every development. Yet, today we face a situation where that trusted system has been deeply undermined, as evidenced by the panic triggered by the so-called "unofficial" press pool stationed outside Mar-a-Lago this afternoon. The events of today serve as an alarming reminder of how far the mainstream media has fallen from the role of a responsible communicator to that of a hapless panic-monger. And, simultaneously, they underscore why President Trump’s vision of including independent journalists and outlets in the press pool may be not just warranted but essential.
The chaos began this afternoon when two ambulances, several vans, and a helicopter were seen leaving Mar-a-Lago. An overzealous CBS producer, watching from afar, decided to put forth an explosive theory—President Trump had been taken away by an ambulance. The message was sent out into the pool, stoking speculation among mainstream networks about the president's health. "Was he dead? Had he suffered a heart attack? Was this an assassination attempt?" The breathless, barely contained eagerness with which the mainstream media spread these unverified claims is revealing. They were more than happy to shout fire in a crowded theater, and today, the crowded theater was the entire world.
This situation could have been easily avoided if that so-called "press pool" had simply exercised some restraint, some patience, or—most importantly—some journalistic integrity. The reality? President Trump was very much alive, sitting comfortably in a meeting inside Mar-a-Lago, while the motorcade seen leaving belonged to Vice President-elect J.D. Vance. The rush to publish sensationalist headlines was exacerbated by the utter lack of official channels and coordination. In fact, as Steven Cheung, Trump’s incoming White House Communications Director, noted: the mainstream press created their own "fake, unofficial 'pool' because they want to feel important.