Major US television networks have suspended their shared White House television-pool coverage of President Donald Trump after CNN was prevented from carrying out its scheduled duties. Fox News Media, ABC News, CBS News, CNN and NBC News jointly decided not to provide replacement crews for presidential pool assignments.
CNN had been scheduled to handle the pool during Trump’s trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The rotating pool system allows participating networks to share footage from presidential events where access is limited. With CNN barred from the White House grounds, the networks opted not to replace it for the assignment.
The decision followed the White House’s exclusion of CNN, MS NOW and Politico. Reporters from the three organisations were denied access to the White House on September 19 after Trump announced the restrictions, citing what he described as “fake news” coverage. Their press credentials were subsequently disabled or confiscated.
On September 21, CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a lawsuit against Trump and members of his administration, arguing that the restrictions violate their First Amendment rights. They are seeking legal relief to restore access. Trump has defended the restrictions while saying his administration is targeting what he calls “fake news,” rather than the free press.
The suspension affects the shared pool arrangement rather than ending the networks’ individual coverage of the Trump administration. Reporters can continue covering the president from locations where they retain access.
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