19 July, 2017
Following a contentious few months between reporters and press secretary Sean Spicer, on-camera briefings have become rare, replaced by off-cameras or even smaller press gaggles.
Networks are pushing for the White House to put the briefings back on camera and be shown live.
Roberts later explained that he left the room to shoot a live shot that wouldn't have been necessary if news stations were allowed to film the briefing. "I would have waited until it was over", Roberts said in a series of tweets.
"John Roberts is bored today", Sanders said, "he's headed out".
Told by a reporter there would be several parts to his question, Huckabee Sanders responded: "I thought they were all multi-question days".
The reporter replied: "We could also do it on camera, but just an idea".
This was confirmed by Fox News' Shep Smith, according to The Hill, who played an audio file registered during the briefing, noting that John Roberts came out early in order to join his team.
CNN senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta, who has complained on air about the Trump administration "taking us into a unusual new world where accountability doesn't exist", last month repeatedly asked Spicer, "Why don't we turn the cameras on, Sean?" but didn't get an answer.
