During what was supposed to be just another Cabinet meeting, a hot mic caught Donald Trump asking for some extra praise. At the end of the meeting, as reporters were being ushered out of the room, Trump’s voice was picked up on an Associated Press (AP) live feed. “Lawrence, say we did a great job, please. Okay? Say it was unbelievable,” Trump said to Jones, one of the hand-picked reporters allowed in the room. The AP feed then cut off, but the moment had already been captured.
This minor exchange might have gone unnoticed in a different era. But today, with media access being such a big issue, it caught everyone’s attention.
Trump’s team has changed how the press covers the White House. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA), which usually coordinates shared coverage, has been sidelined. Instead, Trump’s team is picking which journalists get access. Unsurprisingly, right-wing media outlets like Newsmax, Blaze Media, and Fox News are getting priority treatment, while mainstream outlets such as the Associated Press have been left out.
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WHCA President Eugene Daniels made it clear that they won’t be playing along. “This board will not assist any attempt by this administration or any other in taking over independent press coverage of the White House,” Daniels said. In other words, the press isn’t about to let Trump turn news coverage into a MAGA infomercial without a fight.
The Cabinet meeting was more of a friendly chat than a serious policy discussion. Lawrence Jones, who was one of the few reporters allowed in, asked Trump a series of easy questions—like which Cabinet member was his favorite. (Imagine being in a meeting and being asked who your favorite co-worker is. Awkward.)
Jones also asked Trump whether he would fire every general and commander involved in the Afghanistan withdrawal. “Well, that’s a great idea,” Trump responded, before turning to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (yes, another Fox News alum) and saying, “I’m not going to tell this man what to do, but I will say that if I had his place, I’d fire every single one of them.”
Did Jones actually go on TV and say the meeting was “unbelievable”? Not exactly. But he did come pretty close.
During Fox & Friends the next morning, Jones spoke glowingly about the meeting. “The president picked Cabinet members that can really present his ideas, their ideas clearly. He doesn’t have to worry about them going out and blowing everything up – everybody is on the same page,” he said.
Co-host Steve Doocy added, “I find it great, too. These are guys that normally—and gals—are used to communicating their ideas.”
While he didn’t use Trump’s exact words, Jones delivered the message the former president wanted. Whether that was due to the hot mic moment or simply because he genuinely felt that way is up for debate.
This moment reveals two key things about Trump and the press. First, he doesn’t just want coverage—he wants control. He expects reporters to promote his message, not just report it. Second, the fight over press access isn’t going away. As mainstream media gets sidelined in favor of Trump-friendly outlets, the battle for independent coverage is only getting tougher.
Featured image via Screengrab
