WASHINGTON — Five major U.S. television networks have suspended their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump’s public events following the White House decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from access.
The networks are ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News, which jointly operate the White House television pool on a rotating basis.
The decision came after CNN was removed from the pool schedule while Trump travelled to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
CNN had been scheduled to provide the pool television coverage on Monday. The other networks declined to provide a replacement crew.
In a joint statement, the five networks said the public has a vital interest in receiving accurate and independent information about the government.
They also said no administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to the organisation’s reporting.
The White House had announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the premises, with Trump accusing the outlets of publishing what he called “fake news.”
Reporters from the three organisations were subsequently denied access to the White House, and their press credentials were reportedly disabled or revoked.
The television pool normally allows one network to provide live video of presidential events, with the footage shared among other broadcasters.
With CNN excluded and no replacement assigned, the regular presidential television pool was suspended.
The move meant there was no designated television pool camera covering Trump’s public events during his UN trip, although other journalists and media organisations continued reporting from New York.
The dispute has also moved to court. CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the restrictions violate their constitutional rights, including First Amendment protections for freedom of the press.
The White House has defended its decision, while the affected media organisations maintain that the restrictions interfere with independent journalism and their ability to cover the government.
The suspension comes amid a broader confrontation between the Trump administration and several major U.S. news organisations over presidential press access.
The White House has also promoted its own online “Trump TV” feed, providing video of presidential events outside the traditional television pool system.
