In 2025, the United States ranked 57th place on the World Press Freedom Index tied with developing countries such as Gambia. The country reached this historic low despite the First Amendment which forbids the government from making laws that abridge freedom of speech and of the press. Press briefings are seen to play a crucial role in upholding this amendment. As such, this latest statistic raises the question on whether Whitehouse press briefings really facilitate ethical journalism. Rationalism, utilitarianism and virtue ethics all argue that it does not. From a rationalist perspective…