US President Donald Trump's audio cut out as he announced a new White House heliport on Monday, leaving no additional microphones to cover the event amid the spat between the White House and its press pool.
Trump made his remarks, which went unheard through the White House's only camera, as he prepared to depart on Marine One to New York.
This comes after the president announced a ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House press pool for promoting what he considers to be "fake news."
"No president is required to host a hostile outlet on White House grounds," the president said in a statement defending his decision. "Access has always been a privilege, and President Trump is enforcing the rule."
Banned news outlets file lawsuits against White House
The banned news outlets have filed a lawsuit seeking to restore access to the White House, under the premise that the ban violates free speech under the First Amendment.
In an apparent response to the revoked passes, the resulting lawsuits, and boycotts, the White House launched 'Trump TV' on YouTube, a livestream meant to transmit statements to the public, bypassing mainstream media outlets, which the president has often been at war with since his first administration.
Many criticize the move as establishing "state media," while supporters praise it for sidestepping what they view as hegemonic and overly biased establishment media.
"With such corrupt and crooked press, how did I win by such a landslide? Because the media has zero credibility, and that is a very bad thing for our country!" Trump taunted.