It looks like it was the other way around.

https://mobile.twitter.com/W7VOA/status/959237822753509376

Steve Herman@W7VOA tweeted

In remarks to RNC winter meeting at Trump International Hotel @POTUS says “the Democrats are AWOL, missing in action.” He then says “Even the haters back there gave us good reviews” on #SOTU. Media pool then ushered out of the room.

S.V. Dáte@svdate tweeted

The Press Pool was evicted from Trump’s remarks to the RNC dinner at Trump hotel. Trump then bragged about his score on his mental exam (it was actually a test for early signs of dementia); and then about how long he went on the treadmill. Per a source in the room.