During his first Cabinet meeting of the new term on February 27, 2025, President Donald Trump was caught on a hot microphone urging Fox News host Lawrence Jones to positively portray the meeting. As the session concluded and the press began to exit, Trump addressed Jones, saying, “Lawrence, say we did a great job, please. Okay? Say it was unbelievable.”
This incident occurred amidst changes to the White House press pool, with the administration favoring right-wing outlets like Newsmax and Blaze Media, while excluding traditional agencies such as the Associated Press. The Associated Press, however, continued to provide live feeds of events, capturing moments like this unintended exchange.
Critics argue that this hot mic moment reflects President Trump’s desire to influence media narratives and seek validation from favorable news outlets. Supporters, on the other hand, may view it as a lighthearted interaction between the president and a media personality.
For a visual representation of this event, here’s an image capturing the moment President Trump addressed Fox News host Lawrence Jones during the Cabinet meeting:
