Trump cuts ribbon on new helipad

President Trump unveiled the White House's new helicopter landing pad Monday with gold scissors and a red, white and blue ribbon on the South Lawn.

Networks boycott over CNN ban

ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox News skipped covering the ceremony after Trump banned CNN from White House grounds, breaking their normal five-network pool rotation.

Trump announced CNN ban Friday

Trump said Friday he was banning CNN, MS Now and Politico from covering the White House. All three outlets have since sued over the decision.

Helicopter noise drowned out remarks

Trump's words at the ceremony were inaudible over his waiting Marine One helicopter. He later posted on social media instead of answering reporters' questions.

“We are just leaving the White House Lawn on the maiden voyage from the newly built, and very beautiful, Heliport!”

Granite pad impresses visiting Xi

Trump designed the helipad with extensive granite he claims has a million-year lifespan. Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives Wednesday for a state visit.

Previous Trump project failed quickly

Trump claimed his Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool refurbish would last a century, but paint faded and the liner peeled away in chunks within days.

Helipad cost up to six million

Trump said the helipad would be privately funded by Sikorsky Aircraft, a Lockheed Martin subsidiary, at an estimated cost of up to six million dollars.

Media ban overshadows building plans

Constitutional questions over Trump's CNN ban have eclipsed his helipad project and Xi's visit, as his approval ratings sink weeks before midterm elections.