Yamiche Alcindor Returns to White House Beat for NBC News

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yamiche Alcindor, a prominent journalist known for her coverage of the Trump administration, announced Monday that she will return to the White House beat for NBC News to cover the second Trump administration. Alcindor, who previously served as a PBS White House correspondent and New York Times reporter, shared the news on social media, stating, “I’m heading back to the White House beat for @NBCNews to cover the second Trump administration. It’s a true honor to be a journalist and I welcome all news tips and story ideas.”

Alcindor first gained national attention during President Donald Trump‘s first term, where her combative exchanges with the president often made headlines. Trump once accused her of asking “a racist question,” a moment that solidified her reputation among liberal media circles. She joined NBC News in 2021 as a Washington correspondent after serving as the White House correspondent for PBS “NewsHour” since 2018.

Throughout her career, Alcindor has been praised by progressive allies for her advocacy-oriented approach to journalism. In 2021, she revealed that she considers it her duty to use journalism to bend the “moral arc toward justice.” Her reporting has frequently included liberal commentary, particularly during her coverage of the Trump administration. However, her tone shifted noticeably after President Joe Biden took office, with Alcindor praising Biden as a “moral, decent man” and highlighting his efforts to repair relationships with European allies.

Alcindor’s return to the White House beat has sparked mixed reactions. Conservative critics have accused her of bias, with some labeling her a “far-left activist.” John Hasson, a conservative writer, criticized NBC News on social media, writing, “Wow, good to see @NBCNews has learned— *checks notes* —nothing. They’ve learned absolutely nothing from their mistakes.” Former GOP congressional candidate Kim Klacik echoed these sentiments, calling Alcindor “terrible & extremely combative.”

Despite the criticism, Alcindor remains a respected figure in journalism. Her coverage of the Trump administration often included additional context on social media, particularly when reporting on the former president’s remarks. In 2020, she defended her approach, stating, “Covering President Trump you have to add context. You have to tell people here’s when he’s wrong and here’s when he’s right.”

Alcindor’s return comes as NBC News reshuffles its White House and Capitol Hill teams ahead of the new administration. She will join Vaughn Hillyard as a White House correspondent, while Peter Alexander continues as chief White House correspondent. The network’s digital team will also see changes, with Peter Nicholas and Katherine Doyle leading White House coverage.