Trump Opens White House Helipad Amid Media Boycott

President Donald Trump cut a red, white and blue ribbon with oversized gold scissors on Sept. 21, 2026, to open a new White House helipad beside Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet and construction workers. He shook hands with officials in green construction smocks and hard hats, then boarded Marine One from the pad and flew toward New York. Helicopter noise left his remarks inaudible and he did not answer shouted questions; coverage carried video but no audio after the White House used an in-house feed. On Truth Social he wrote, "THANK YOU to the Great Construction Workers and Stone Masons of the Washington, D.C., area, who created something very special." Trump has said the pad's extensive granite will have a "million-year life," bears a large Seal of the President of the United States insignia, was contemplated for roughly 25 years, and would impress Chinese President Xi Jinping, due Wednesday for a state visit. The ceremony followed his Friday ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, who sued. ABC, CBS, CNN and Fox News then jointly refused pool coverage. Chris Boughton, chair of the press pool group, said the pool would not cover designated events after CNN was blocked. Ceremony details are not in dispute; the press-access fight and lawsuits remain unresolved ahead of Xi's visit.