Major US TV networks suspend White House pool coverage of Trump over CNN ban

Major television networks have suspended their participation in the White House press pool to protest the administration’s decision to ban CNN from covering the president. The five networks involved in the rotation—ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and CNN—announced they would not provide pool coverage for presidential events as long as the current restrictions remain in place.

The decision follows an administration directive that removed CNN from its scheduled rotation for pool duties. In response, the networks issued a joint statement asserting that the public has a vital interest in receiving independent information about the government and that no administration should restrict a news organization based on objections to its reporting.

Bryan Boughton, the Fox News Washington bureau chief currently serving as the pool chair, confirmed that no replacement pool would be established to cover the president. While the networks have halted pool coverage of the president, they noted that other standard pool operations, including coverage of Congress, VIPs, and other selected events, will continue as normal.

The suspension of coverage coincides with an active week for the administration, including the president’s scheduled appearances at the White House and a visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The blackout represents a significant shift in the standard arrangement for documenting presidential activities.

The conflict stems from a broader administration policy announced by the president, which restricted access for CNN, Politico, and MS NOW due to what the administration described as negative coverage. In response to these restrictions, the affected news organizations have initiated legal action against the president and three White House officials, alleging that the ban violates the First Amendment.