President Trump Inaugurates White House Helipad Amid Media Access Dispute

Why it matters locally: The dispute over White House media access, a federal matter, directly affects the professional environment for journalists and news organizations based in Washington, D.C., and influences the local media landscape's operations.

President Donald Trump formally opened a new helipad at the White House on November 9, 2018. Major television networks did not provide live coverage of the event. CNN, NBC News, CBS News, and ABC News did not send reporters or camera crews to the inauguration. The decision by these news organizations followed the White House's revocation of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credentials on November 7. The White House stated Acosta's conduct during a press conference led to the withdrawal of his pass. Following the White House's action, other news outlets expressed solidarity with CNN. The New York Times reported that major television networks refused to replace CNN's White House pool crew. This unified stance resulted in a limited media presence at the helipad event. Two Republican members of Congress from Utah, Senator Orrin Hatch and Representative Mia Love, publicly voiced their disagreement with the White House's decision to ban Acosta. Senator Hatch stated his belief that a free press is essential to democracy. Representative Love emphasized the importance of access for all journalists.