Politics · India Bureau
Trump opens White House helipad amid media access row
President Donald Trump inaugurated a new helicopter landing pad at the White House Monday, but major television networks boycotted coverage after CNN was barred from the event. The incident marks an escalation in Trump's contentious relationship with sections of the American media.
LSN India ·
Trump presided over the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the White House helipad on Monday, wielding oversized gold scissors to cut a red, white and blue ribbon in a gesture intended to project normalcy and business continuity. He exchanged handshakes with officials dressed in green construction smocks and hardhats before boarding Marine One for a flight to New York.
The helipad inauguration took place against a backdrop of heightened tensions between the Trump administration and major news organizations. CNN, along with MSNBC and Politico, has initiated legal action after Trump announced Friday that he was banning the three outlets from covering White House events.
CNN's exclusion from Monday's event prompted other major television networks to abstain from coverage as well, breaking with normal protocols. CNN typically participates in a rotating pool arrangement with four other networks that collectively provides coverage of daily White House activities, a system designed to ensure diverse news organizations have access to official events.
The president's media restrictions represent a significant escalation in his long-standing conflict with news organizations, employing both court challenges and administrative measures to limit coverage he deems unfavorable. The resulting legal battles and coverage boycotts underscore deepening divisions between the administration and segments of the American press.