President of the United States (US) Donald Trump’s remarks were not audible during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the White House, hours after major US television networks refused to participate in the TV pool following his decision to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House coverage.
Trump was seen cutting a ribbon for the new South Lawn helipad on Monday and speaking with construction workers, but the cameras at the event failed to capture clear audio of what he was saying.
International media outlets covering the event pointed out that no microphone was available because the usual TV pool cameras were not present. A separate microphone also failed to pick up clear audio.
“This is one example of it backfiring just a little bit,” an international media outlet host noted during the coverage.
The audio problem came after Fox News, CBS, ABC and NBC said that they will not participate in the television pool covering Trump. Their decision followed Trump’s move to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from covering the White House.
CNN had been scheduled to provide the TV pool coverage for Trump’s trip to New York for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico also announced on Monday that they will sue the Trump administration over the ban. The outlets said that they filed the case to challenge the decision and defend press freedom.
“This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,” the outlets said in a joint statement.
“Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting,” the statement continued. “Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.”
Trump defended the decision in a post on Truth Social, saying that he was not carrying out an assault on the free press but an assault on “FAKE NEWS.”
The lack of audio during the helipad ceremony then became a subject of heated discussion online, with users linking the incident to the wider dispute between Trump and the media.
With Trump’s remarks becoming inaudible taking place after the media pool pulled out, the internet was quick to react to the situation. Social media users took the audio failure as another twist in the dispute between Trump and the media, with several pointing to the irony of his attempt to limit media coverage being followed by a ceremony where viewers could not hear him.
“Let’s make a movie about this sht and put it in a time capsule. People in the future will laugh their as off.” Others questioned Trump’s continued conflict with the media, with one user writing, “Why are Americans tolerating him? He should be impeached.”
Another post mocked the situation by describing the White House as a “literal low-budget circus show” and claimed that after Trump tried to silence independent journalists, the administration ended up running a public access channel with old speeches.
The lack of audio also led some users to suggest that the incident had worked in their favour. “It doesn’t matter what he says anymore. This is poetry.” “I can’t hear him. That makes me feel better.”
“This suits him. Liars should be silenced.” “He got exactly what he wanted! Now we don’t have to listen to him anymore!”
Some users went further, arguing that less media coverage could reduce Trump’s public platform.
“THIS IS THE SOLUTION! Stop giving this tw*t any media coverage or social media spotlight. The M- will succumb in a matter of weeks 100%”
Another user wrote, “Might be a good thing that Trump is finally silenced. No more elementary school speeches or little girl whining from Trump, that’s a win. If no one hears him, then he becomes powerless. No more market manipulation.”
Others focused on the decision by the press pool to withdraw from coverage.
“Congratulations to the press pool for taking this important stand. It was long overdue. Trump’s treating the reporters is abominable and disgusting. Corny as it sounds, but silence (of the press) is golden.”
