The White House has expanded access to press briefings to include a broader range of media outlets, including independent journalists, influencers, and nontraditional platforms, a move officials said was intended to reach audiences beyond those served by legacy news organizations.

Shortly before President Donald Trump took office in 2025, the incoming administration announced the change as part of a communications strategy.

At the time, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained the approach, stating, “So we will look to effectively communicate his message through all mediums so that all Americans are hearing the facts from the White House directly, not through the lens of the ever-biased anti-Trump legacy media.”

The expanded access was on display Friday during a Pentagon briefing on Operation Epic Fury, where a mix of traditional and newer outlets attended.

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Among them was TMZ, a Los Angeles-based media outlet owned by Fox Corporation, which has historically focused on entertainment coverage but has recently established a presence in Washington, D.C.

TMZ, which stands for “Thirty Mile Zone,” has spent more than two decades reporting on entertainment figures and celebrity news.

Its entry into the political press corps represents a shift in its coverage, as it begins reporting on federal policy and government activity alongside established media organizations.

During the briefing, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledged TMZ’s presence and took questions from two of its reporters. The first question came from TMZ’s Jacob Wasserman, who asked about decision-making in military operations.

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“I’ve heard you talk a lot about bombing people in places,” Wasserman said.

“And when you give these orders to carry out this extreme level of violence, what’s going through your mind and your body? Do you have, like, an adrenaline rush? Are you scared? Do you feel like you’re on a power trip? Just walk us through and paint us a picture of what it feels like mentally and physically.”

Hegseth responded by addressing the responsibilities of his role. “It’s a very TMZ question,” he said.

“My only thought process is to ensure that our war fighters have everything they need to be successful, defeat and destroy the enemy. And they come home.”

He continued, “I want them to feel empowered to have every authority they need within our rules and within our law to bring maximum violence to the enemy. Because war is violent. War requires doing difficult things.”

Hegseth added, “But I want our people to feel empowered, so it’s our guys that come home and their guys that do not.”

A second question came from TMZ reporter Charlie Cotton, who asked whether Hegseth would consider renaming the Department of Defense to reflect a focus on peace.

“Well, that’s the pursuit,” Hegseth said. “It’s a great question, actually. You go from Defense to War because you want to be proactive about peace through strength.”

He added that he had recently addressed military leadership on the topic.

“I gave a speech in front of generals about what the ethos of the War Department is all about because I wanted to go through every echelon of this department.”

Hegseth also referenced prior comments about the department’s broader role.

He said it is “the one institution that should win the Nobel Peace Prize” because “we are the guarantor of the safety and security of –– not just of our country, but a lot of people in this world.”

He concluded, “When you fight a war the right way, the idea is on the other side, you bring about peace. That is what we'd like to see the most.”

The inclusion of outlets like TMZ has generated discussion among media organizations and political observers about changes to the press corps.

Some have questioned whether newer outlets should receive the same access as traditional organizations, while others have pointed to their ability to reach different audiences.

TMZ’s move into political coverage has also coincided with broader developments in media reporting.

A recent report from NOTUS highlighted a 2023 Ethics Committee investigation involving Rep. Alma Adams of North Carolina, detailing allegations of an “inappropriate relationship” with a staff member.

As the White House continues to include a wider range of media organizations in briefings and events, the shift reflects ongoing changes in how government officials communicate with the public and how news is delivered across different platforms.

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