President Donald Trump’s new media restrictions appeared to boomerang Monday when a Newsmax host acknowledged that the absence of the White House television press pool left the president’s remarks almost impossible to hear.
Trump was speaking at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the White House’s new helipad when the roar of Marine One overwhelmed the official video feed. Newsmax tried to carry the event, but host Bianca de la Garza quickly pointed out the problem.
“There is no microphone because the pool cameras aren’t there,” de la Garza said, according to Mediaite, calling it an example of the policy “backfiring just a little bit.”
“Can’t hear what the president is saying,” she added before the network moved back to its studio discussion.
The awkward moment came after the White House blocked CNN from performing its scheduled assignment in the rotating television pool. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC then suspended pooled coverage of presidential events rather than send a substitute crew.
The five networks said in a joint statement that the public has a “vital interest” in receiving independent information about the government and argued that an administration should not exclude an outlet because it objects to its reporting, CBS News reported.
The pool system allows a small rotating team to cover presidential travel and events before sharing its video with other outlets. It is especially important in tight spaces where every news organization cannot bring its own cameras and equipment.
Monday’s suspension meant Trump’s official feed lacked the network microphone that would normally help capture his voice over the helicopter noise. It also left his trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly without a network television pool team.
Lawsuit Raises The Stakes
The breakdown unfolded hours after CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued the Trump administration over its decision to revoke their White House access.
The outlets contend that the ban amounts to unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination and violates their First and Fifth Amendment rights. Their filing seeks immediate restoration of access while the case proceeds.
Trump has defended the move as a response to coverage he considers dishonest.
“I don’t think somebody should be allowed to come and write fake stories,” the president said Friday, according to CBS News.
He later wrote that the White House was targeting “FAKE NEWS,” not the free press.
The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee who handled CNN correspondent Jim Acosta’s 2018 challenge after the White House revoked his press pass. Kelly ordered Acosta’s credential restored at the time after finding that the administration had violated his due-process rights.
NewsBusters executive editor Tim Graham, appearing with de la Garza, said that history could spell trouble for the latest ban.
“I think it’s not going to work out well,” Graham said, according to Mediaite, while still blasting CNN, MS NOW and Politico as part of what he called the “anti-Trump press mob.”
