Video shows Trump's media ban backfiring as speech falls silent - Newsweek
President Donald Trump's move to ban several news outlets from the White House had an awkward consequence on Monday, when his speech at a televised ribbon-cutting ceremony could barely be heard after major networks boycotted the event.
Footage broadcast by the conservative network Newsmax showed Trump speaking at the event to open a new White House helipad. But without the cameras and microphones normally provided by the White House TV press pool, his speech could not be heard.
"There's no microphone because the pool cameras aren't there," a Newsmax presenter said over the footage. "So maybe...this is one example of it backfiring just a little bit."
Trump announced in a Truth Social post on Friday that he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House because of "their constant 'reporting' FAKE NEWS!"
On Monday, other major networks said they had pulled out of pool duty in protest over the ban.
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC said in a joint statement: "The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”
The White House TV press pool is a rotating system in which one network provides the cameras and footage for major presidential events, which is then shared with the other networks.
CNN had been slated to cover the event on Monday but was unable to after the ban.
“There will be no replacement pool put in place,” said Bryan Boughton, the Fox News Washington bureau chief and chair of the TV pool in a memo to the White House press corps, seen by Politico.
Newsweek contacted the White House and Boughton for comment via email on Tuesday, outside of regular working hours.
In a joint statement on Monday, CNN, MS NOW and Politico said they were pursuing legal action over the ban “to protect our First Amendment rights.”
The emergency request will be heard by a federal judge in D.C. District Court, with hearings and arguments potentially taking place as soon as this week, CNN reported.
Trump has long battled with mainstream media outlets, often branding coverage he dislikes as “fake news” and regularly accusing them of biased and inaccurate reporting.
After he announced the ban on the three outlets, the White House unveiled a new live broadcast on YouTube called TRUMP TV, which says it will stream must-see highlights of the president’s activities 24/7.
The livestream has been running since Monday, and has played footage of some of Trump’s recent speeches, including his remarks at Mount Rushmore marking America’s 250th anniversary and his 2025 commencement address to West Point graduates.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Matthew Robinson and Tony Phillips.
This is a developing story. More to follow.
