Trump inaugurates new White House helipad, but networks skip coverage during First Amendment fight

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump indicated off his new White House helicopter landing pad on Monday, attempting to brush aside a First Amendment firestorm even as major television networks kept their cameras away in protest of CNN being banned from the grounds.

Key points

• Trump didn't answer reporters' shouted questions before climbing aboard Marine One on his way to New York.
• A light drizzle fell on the South Lawn as Trump applied oversized gold scissors to cut a red, white and blue ribbon.
• If he had words to mark the occasion, nevertheless, it was impossible to hear them over the noise of his waiting helicopter.

What happened

Notably, a light drizzle fell on the South Lawn as Trump applied oversized gold scissors to cut a red, white and blue ribbon. He then exchanged handshakes with authorities and some members of a construction crew wearing green smocks and hard hats – seeking to portray business as usual.

If he had words to mark the occasion, nevertheless, it was impossible to hear them over the noise of his waiting helicopter. Normally, TV network crews work to capture clearer audio.

Trump didn't answer reporters' shouted questions before climbing aboard Marine One on his way to New York. Instead, he wrote on his social media site, "We are just leaving the White House Lawn on the maiden voyage from the newly built, and very beautiful, Heliport!"

The bottom line

Taken together, the developments around trump inaugurates new White House helipad, but networks skip coverage during First point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.