The MAGA media takeover: How Trump’s allies are reshaping the White House press corps

The MAGA media takeover

In the early days of Donald Trump’s second term, the White House press corps has begun to look drastically different. A new faction of MAGA-aligned media figures — from podcasts, YouTube streams, and far-right outlets — has moved in, changing both the tone and the culture of the daily briefings. Leading the charge is 24-year-old Natalie Winters, co-host of Steve Bannon’s War Room, whose confrontational presence and viral content reflect a broader transformation underway in Washington’s media establishment, Politico reported.

From fringe to front row
Unlike the traditional press corps, members of the so-called “new media” don’t come with long résumés at mainstream newspapers or cable news networks. Instead, they bring massive online followings, close ties to conservative influencers, and a clear partisan agenda. With their spot in the now-infamous “conservative corner” of the briefing room, they livestream briefings, needle reporters from legacy outlets, and double as activists in the broader MAGA movement.

War Room’s Winters has become a symbol of this shift. Known for her online feuds and stylised fashion, she refers to the mainstream media as the real propagandists and describes herself as covering the “resistance” — not the White House. “We’re the rising power,” she told Politico, echoing the sentiment among her cohort that their presence is not just disruptive, but transformational.

Changing the rules of access
Trump’s press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, has not only welcomed these new voices but has reportedly worked behind the scenes to ensure they receive favourable treatment. A rotating “new media seat” has been introduced. There are discussions about altering the seating chart itself — a symbolic gesture with real implications, potentially displacing traditional outlets and elevating figures like Winters and Brian Glenn of Real America’s Voice to more prominent positions.

Glenn, who’s made headlines for his romance with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and for scolding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a recent White House visit, says his presence is justified by experience. “I’ve been with Trump at every rally, every court appearance — nobody else can say that,” he claimed.

From press to performance
For many of the new conservative reporters, the goal isn’t objectivity but amplification. Their audiences expect confrontation, not consensus. Monica Paige Luisi of Turning Point USA regularly posts memes about her White House coverage. Cara Castronuova of Lindell TV — a former boxing champion and reality show trainer — often takes her mic outside the gates to interview Trump supporters and protestors alike.

Breitbart’s Matt Boyle, the self-described “elder statesman of the new media,” says the group is growing more organised and permanent. Meanwhile, legacy reporters are bristling, with growing concerns about the erosion of journalistic standards in a briefing room that increasingly resembles a content studio.

A deeper realignment in journalism
As Trump’s allies in the media entrench themselves within the West Wing, the shift represents more than just a change in tone — it marks a redefinition of the media’s role in American politics. In this new version of the press corps, ideological loyalty, personal branding, and digital virality are the currency of influence. And for this White House, that’s exactly the point.