Megyn Kelly casts doubt on White House selecting press pool

Conservative commentator Megyn Kelly cast doubt on a recent decision by the White House to take control of the press pool covering President Trump's daily activities.

"So, I will say for the record, I don’t know how I feel about the White House saying, ‘We’re now going to decide who’s in pool.’ It’s not the same as saying ‘We’re going to bring in new voices to the press briefing room.’ I love all that," Kelly said during a recent episode of her SiriusXM podcast, referring to the administration's effort to include "new" media in the fray.

"But I actually happen to believe the media should decide who’s in pool, like, because it’s a matter of resources," she added.

Kelly argued it is important to have professional journalistic organizations covering the president.

"Like you can’t f--- around with that," she said. "You need true pros who have got a lot of experience, you know, setting up a shot, being ready for breaking news."

"I speak only from the TV realm because that’s the one I know. I got questions about this before I really endorse it or criticize it," Kelly continued. "But the media is in a full out meltdown over it."

The commentator's remarks were first highlighted by Mediate.

The White House this week announced it would decide which outlets would be included in the pool of reporters covering the president, a move that has sparked condemnation from the White House Correspondents Association and press freedom groups.

It comes as the White House fights back a lawsuit from The Associated Press, which it banned earlier this month from key White House spaces over its refusal to change its style on the Gulf of Mexico, which the Trump administration has renamed to "Gulf of America."