President Donald Trump told Karoline Leavitt, in front of senior advisers, that her “last legacy” could be permanently evicting the press from the White House by shuttering the briefing room, The New York Times reported on Tuesday. In fact, the president had pitched her the move multiple times before the former press secretary left the job, sources with knowledge of the discussions told the NYT.

The transition never happened during her reign of often sparring with reporters on Trump’s behalf, but the possibility is still on the table.

The president continues to ponder whether to banish reporters from the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room and replace the area with a swimming pool, which occupied the space when Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president, according to the newspaper. President Richard Nixon later covered it up to make room for a press area.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building nearby has emerged as a possible alternative.

Trump’s aggression toward the fourth estate ― specifically the part he perceives as the enemy ― has mushroomed in his second term. His caustic remarks to reporters continued on Tuesday, and his effort to ban certain outlets from the premises was blocked by a judge recently.

True to form, his staff struck a combative tone in addressing the NYT piece.

“America is rightly distrustful of the fake news media because they fabricate stories based off lies and sources who are not even privy to any type of information,” White House communications director Steven Cheung wrote on X. “All options remain on the table, and we will make an announcement when appropriate.”

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