Nontraditional media and several TikTok influencers who use the social media platform to talk about news said they would be applying to be a reporter in the briefing room this week after White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced there would be a designated seat in the briefing room for independent or new media.

"The idea of opening the White House press briefings to organizations beyond the legacy media is the right thing to do," ex-CNN journalist Chris Cillizza wrote in a Substack post. 

As several journalists have opted to utilize Substack, others have used TikTok to share news or talk about news. Leavitt also suggested that podcasters apply to what she described as the "new media" seat.

"I very much hope, however, that the Trump White House doesn’t just (or mostly) approve only news creators who are predictably in favor of their partisan views. If they want to do a one and one as they did on Tuesday — one partisan news outlet (Breitbart) and one more nonpartisan outlet (Axios) — that would be fine with me. In fact that would be great — whether I was ever the representative for the nonpartisan media," Cilizza wrote.

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Leavitt told reporters during her first briefing these changes were being made to keep in line with President Donald Trump's "revolutionary media approach" that he deployed during his campaign in speaking to popular podcast hosts and social media influencers.

"In keeping with this revolutionary media approach that President Trump deployed during the campaign, the Trump White House will speak to all media outlets and personalities, not just the legacy media who are seated in this room," she explained.

The Daily Wire reported that the White House had received over 7,000 applications for the new media seat after the announcement.

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Democratic influencer Harry Sisson, a vocal supporter of former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris, posted on TikTok that he was applying for a press pass, but had his doubts about whether he would be allowed in the briefing room.

Sisson argued that independent media should have a seat at the table, but wondered how the White House would decide who would get the new media seat, and whether he, a Democrat, would be allowed to ask a question.

Host of "The Ruthless Podcast," Josh Ashbrook, became the first podcaster to ask a question in the briefing room. Ashbrook asked Leavitt if the media was out of touch.

"In your first briefing, the media went after this administration for deporting illegal immigrants they claimed were not criminals," Ashbrook began. "The question is, do you think they're out of touch with Americans demanding action on our border crisis?"

Ashbook, a former campaign strategist to Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., shed light on what it was like to be in the briefing room during an appearance on "The Will Cain Show" that afternoon. 

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"I've interacted with a lot of these same reporters as a press secretary back in the day. So, when I walked into the room, I saw a lot of eye rolls and a lot of smirks and that is exactly what I was hoping for, Will," Ashbrook told Fox News' Will Cain. 

Ashbrook also praised the White House's embrace of "new media," saying Leavitt and her team are making sure that "we the people have a voice inside that room." 

"It's a brand-new day in the media," he said. Others also praised the move on social media.

Other influencers, such as Ivan Gutierrez, a TikToker with 1.2 million followers who posts regularly about the news, also announced they would be applying to have a seat in the briefing room. 

Gutierrez said he was hopeful to post a video directly from the briefing room should his application get accepted. 

Another TikTok news account, UnderTheDeskNews, run by V Spehar, who has collaborated with Biden and former President Barack Obama on the social media app, also praised the seat, but announced they would not be applying for a pass.

"But what I will say is having a new media seat in that room is incredibly smart, and very clever and definitely needed," Spehar said in the post. "And I think the White House Correspondence Association and their attempt to constantly stiff-arm new media missed an opportunity here, because that seat should have been overseen by the White House Correspondence Association. It should have been a peer-led offering, but it's not." 

President Donald Trump isn't worried about American consumers taking a hit after unveiling new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China, and said the tariffs will ensure that other countries treat the U.S. "fairly." 

"There may be temporary, short-term disruption, and people will understand that," Trump told reporters Friday in the Oval Office. 

Trump also signaled that he also may increase tariffs for European Union countries, and said that the tariffs would make the U.S. "very rich and very strong." 

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced earlier Friday that Trump would roll out tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China starting Saturday.

Trump’s economic plan during his campaign called for extending the 2017 tax cuts and imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on all imported goods. For countries like China, that number could go up to 60%.

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These countries will face these tariffs because they have allowed an "unprecedented invasion of illegal fentanyl that is killing American citizens," according to Leavitt. 

"The president will be implementing tomorrow a 25% tariff on Mexico, 25% tariffs on Canada, and a 10% tariff on China for the illegal fentanyl they have sourced and allowed to distribute into our country, which has killed tens of millions of Americans," Leavitt told reporters on Friday at a White House press briefing. "These are promises made and promises kept."

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday that Canada was prepared to respond to any tariffs executed, and warned there could be "disastrous consequences" for American workers and consumers. 

"We’re ready with a response, a purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response," Trudeau said. "It’s not what we want, but if he moves forward, we will also act."

Meanwhile, Leavitt said that the tariffs are not expected to spark a trade war with Canada and that Trump would respond to Trudeau in "due time." 

"The president is intent on doing this," Leavitt said. "And I think Justin Trudeau would be wise to talk to President Trump directly before pushing outlandish comments like that to the media."

When asked if Mexico, Canada or China could offer any concessions to remove these new tariffs, Leavitt said Trump would decide at a later date. 

"If the president at any time decides to roll back those tariffs, I'll leave it to him to make that decision," Leavitt said. "The president is intent on ensuring that he effectively implements tariffs while cutting inflation costs for the American people." 

Leavitt also said that Trump hadn't determined a timeline for additional tariffs on European Union countries, and said she wouldn't "get ahead" of Trump on that matter. 

But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he's concerned that the tariffs will only mean cost increases for American consumers. 

"We should be focused on going hard against competitors who rig the game, like China, rather than attacking our allies," Schumer said in a statement Friday. "If these tariffs go into full effect, they will raise prices for everything from groceries, to cars, to gas, making it even harder for middle-class families to just get by."

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House Republicans moved to reintroduce the U.S. Reciprocal Trade Act on Jan. 24, a measure that would permit Trump to unilaterally impose trade taxes on both adversaries and allies. 

Trump previously praised the measure in 2019, claiming it would "give our workers a fair and level playing field against other countries."

Meanwhile, Democratic Reps. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., and Don Beyer, D-Va., also introduced their own legislation in January that would block Trump from using emergency powers to implement tariffs, amid concerns that American consumers would end up footing the bill.

"The American people have clearly and consistently said that the high cost of living is one of their top concerns," DelBene said in a statement on Jan. 15. "Not only would widespread tariffs drive up costs at home and likely send our economy into recession, but they would likely lead to significant retaliation, hurting American workers, farmers, and businesses."

The Associated Press and Fox News’ Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report. 

A first-term House Democrat is attacking White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt on X after she sought to clarify a White House memo rescinding an earlier policy statement on President Donald Trump's federal funding order.

"Karoline Leavitt is a Fake Christian, like so many in this Golden Calf administration," Rep. Dave Min, D-Calif., wrote on Wednesday.

It comes after the White House rescinded an Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memo that ordered the freeze of most federal grants and assistance, which was blocked by a federal judge on Tuesday.

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Leavitt posted on X that it was just the memo that had been rescinded, and that Trump's executive orders targeting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and other progressive spending priorities remained intact.

"This is NOT a rescission of the federal funding freeze. It is simply a rescission of the OMB memo. Why? To end any confusion created by the court's injunction," she wrote.

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"The President's EOs on federal funding remain in full force and effect, and will be rigorously implemented."

Min's comments were directed at Leavitt's aforementioned post.

Earlier, the California Democrat criticized Leavitt's comments at a White House press briefing in which she said, "DOGE and OMB also found that there was about to be 50 million taxpayer dollars that went out the door to fund condoms in Gaza. That is a preposterous waste of taxpayer dollars."

Min mocked the senior Trump aide, claiming she was making those remarks "while wearing a giant cross to let everyone know how pious and moral she is, even as she is so comfortable stating a bald-faced lie to hundreds of millions of people."

He told Fox News Digital in request for further comment, "As a person of faith, I find it appalling that this administration uses religion to advance an agenda while lying through their teeth about what they are doing – allowing children to go to bed hungry, depriving veterans of their earned healthcare, and slashing funding for the police and first responders."

Fox News Digital reached out to Leavitt for comment.

President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law on Wednesday, marking the first piece of legislation to become law in his second administration. 

"This horrific atrocity should never have been allowed to happen," Trump told reporters ahead of signing the legislation. "And as president, I'm fighting every single day to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again."

The measure, which advanced through the House and Senate in January, directs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants arrested or charged with theft-related crimes, or those accused of assaulting a police officer. 

The law also allows states to sue the Department of Homeland Security for harm caused to their citizens because of illegal immigration.

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The law's name honors a nursing student who was killed during a jog on the University of Georgia’s campus by an illegal immigrant. Jose Ibarra, who previously had been arrested but never detained by ICE, received a life prison sentence for killing 22-year-old Laken Riley. 

Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, expressed her gratitude at the signing for everyone who pushed to advance the legislation.

"We also want to thank President Trump for the promises he made us," Phillips said. "He said he would secure our borders and that he would never forget about Laken. And he hasn't. He's a man of his word."

Riley's father, John, and sister, Lauren, also were present at the signing. 

The measure received support from all House Republicans and 48 Democrats, and all Senate Republicans and 12 Senate Democrats. Trump touted the bipartisan effort Wednesday. 

"With today's action, her name will also live forever in the laws of our country," Trump said. "And this is a very important law. This is something that has brought Democrats and Republicans together. That's not easy to do. Laken did it. Laken did it. America will never, ever forget Laken Hope Riley."

Meanwhile, critics of the measure claim that the law will pave the way for mass detention, including for those who have committed minor offenses like shoplifting. 

Sarah Mehta, senior border policy counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement after the Senate voted to advance the measure ahead of a final vote, "This is an extreme and reactive bill that will authorize the largest expansion of mandatory detention we have seen in decades." 

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"While we are disappointed this bill will pass the Senate, it is notable that so many senators opposed it and recognized the need for actual immigration reform — not the chaos and cruelty this legislation will unleash," Mehta said. 

Trump promised to crack down on illegal immigration during his campaign, and declared a national emergency at the southern border following his inauguration. He also immediately ordered the expulsion of migrants without the possibility of asylum. 

On Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt cautioned foreign nationals considering entering the U.S. that they will be detained and kicked out of the country. 

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"So to foreign nationals who are thinking about trying to illegally enter the United States, think again," Leavitt told reporters on Tuesday at the White House press briefing. "Under this president, you will be detained and you will be deported. Every day, Americans are safer because of the violent criminals that President Trump's administration is removing from our communities."

Trump also announced on Wednesday he would sign an executive order instructing the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to start preparing a migrant facility in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba for 30,000 detainees. 

"We have 30,000 beds in Guantanamo to detain the worst criminal, illegal aliens threatening the American people," Trump said. "Some of them are so bad, we don't even trust the countries to hold them because we don't want them coming back. So we're going to send them out to Guantanamo."

Elizabeth Elkind contributed to this report.