Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Trump Unveils White House Helipad Amid Media Access Dispute
President Donald Trump showed reporters and officials a new helicopter landing pad at the White House.
He cut a ribbon during a rainy ceremony on the South Lawn.
His helicopter was so loud that people could not clearly hear his words.
Several major television networks chose not to record the event.
They were protesting after CNN was stopped from covering the White House.
Some news organizations have sued over the restrictions.
Trump said the helipad was needed for newer helicopters that could damage the grass.
He also said the project would impress visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The project’s exact cost is not yet known.
Donald Trump opened a new White House South Lawn helipad Monday before departing for New York.
ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News skipped coverage after CNN was barred from its scheduled pooled-media rotation.
MS Now, Politico and CNN sued over Trump’s decision to ban them from White House coverage.
Trump said the helipad was needed for newer, more powerful Marine One helicopters and promoted its granite construction.
The project, estimated by Trump at up to $6 million, was reportedly privately funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, though its final cost remains unclear.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, White House officials, television networks and news organizations including CNN, MS Now and Politico.
- What
- Trump unveiled a newly built White House helipad while major television networks skipped coverage in protest of media-access restrictions.
- When
- Monday; Trump was traveling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly, which begins Tuesday, and Xi Jinping was scheduled to arrive Wednesday.
- Where
- The helipad is on the White House South Lawn; Trump later spoke to reporters in New York.
- Why
- Trump said newer Marine One helicopters are too powerful to land on the lawn without damaging the grass, while television networks said their boycott followed CNN’s exclusion from White House coverage.
Media-access critics
Trump administration position
Restrictions on White House coverage
Media-access critics
CNN, MS Now and Politico challenged Trump’s ban in court, while ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News skipped the ceremony in protest.
Trump administration position
Trump said news outlets have an obligation to be fair and characterized their decision not to cover him as a boycott.
Need for the helipad
Media-access critics
Critics questioned the prominence and lasting value of Trump’s renovation projects, noting that the helipad’s final expenditure is difficult to calculate.
Trump administration position
Trump said newer Marine One helicopters are too powerful to land safely on the lawn and that the project would impress visiting dignitaries.
Project financing
Media-access critics
The article notes that some Trump projects initially described as privately funded later involved requests for public money, raising uncertainty about funding arrangements.
Trump administration position
Trump said Sikorsky Aircraft would pay for the helipad because it produced the newer, larger helicopters.
- Project location
- White House South Lawn
- Construction start
- June
- Estimated cost
- Up to $6 million, according to Trump
- Stated funder
- Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary
- Media response
- ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News skipped the ceremony’s coverage
- Legal action
- MS Now, Politico and CNN sued over the White House restrictions
- Related travel
- Trump departed for New York and the United Nations General Assembly