President Donald Trump struggled to be heard when he tried speaking to a news outlet not covered by the ongoing media boycott.
The major TV news networks have pulled out of press pool duties after the White House banned journalists from CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO last week. A judge has since ordered their access be restored - but journalists said they were denied entry to the White House hours later.
Right-wing outlet Real America’s Voice said on social media it was stepping in to cover events at the White House, but when Trump addressed reporters Wednesday, the commander-in-chief was barely audible above static.
“Meeting…they appreciate it…” Trump could be heard saying on RAV’s broadcast, although much of what the president says was drowned out by noise.
“Also, it’s very nice to land in…” the president continued, before referencing a helipad he described as “...ever built by far.”
“It’s nice when you get off, especially for the pilots not to land in grass,” he added.
The static continues throughout the clip, in the second instance of the president struggling to be heard without having the White House TV press pool to address. Trump faced similar problems when he cut the ribbon at the new helipad installed on the South Lawn at the White House earlier this week.
His remarks about the helipad opening can be heard more clearly in footage released by the White House.
“So that was a great little meeting, a great greeting” he begins, referring to talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. “And, I think they appreciate it.”
“Also, it’s very nice to land on what they consider to be the most beautiful helipad ever, ever built by far,” he says. “They’ve been waiting for that for about 30 years.”
Trump went on to tout the sweeping renovations and changes he has made to the White House, including its facade and his controversial ballroom.
The president announced Friday that CNN, POLITICO and MS NOW would be banned from the White House, with reporters from each outlet having their press passes taken away the following day. On Monday, the brands confirmed that they had filed a lawsuit against Trump and three key White House officials.
The White House TV pool later confirmed that it was suspending coverage of the president.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order against Trump’s ban on the outlets Thursday, ruling that the decision had “likely violated their constitutional due process rights.”
“And as discussed further below, the Court is skeptical—at least on this record—that Defendants’ interest in safeguarding national security is the actual motivation for, or is even advanced by, the revocation of Plaintiffs’ hard passes,” Kelly added in his ruling.
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