The Donald Trump administration has decided to allow new media, including social media influencers, to access the White House and cover briefings, with reports indicating that more than 7,400 people have applied for press credentials.
According to Bloomberg News and others on the 29th (local time), the number of people who applied for press credentials to access the White House and cover briefings has exceeded 7,400.
The first to apply for access were the online media outlets Axios and Breitbart. Axios and Breitbart also secured the first question during the media briefing the day before, led by White House Spokesperson Caroline Levitt.
At that time, Levitt noted, "Millions of Americans, especially young people, are consuming news from independent media such as podcasts, blogs, and social media rather than traditional television and newspapers," announcing the decision to grant access to the White House for new media.
According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 40% of adults under 30 in the U.S. are getting news about current affairs and politics through influencers. During last year's presidential election, the Democratic Party also invited more than 200 creators to cover the convention. NBC granted press credentials to dozens of influencers for reporting on the Paris Olympics.
President Trump is viewed as having effectively utilized a strategy involving influencers, including interviews with podcasters during last year's presidential election process, to attract young conservative male voters.