US TV networks halt White House pool coverage after Trump bans

Major American television networks have ceased pooled coverage of US President Donald Trump in response to a White House ban on CNN. ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and CNN – comprising the White House television pool roster – announced they would not replace CNN's crew after being barred from covering the President. The networks emphasized the public's right to accurate, independent information and the administration's improper restriction of a news organization.

The suspension halts TV pool crews accompanying Trump on his trip to New York for the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. CNN, along with MSNBC and Politico, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the revocation of their journalists' access violated their First Amendment rights. The First Amendment guarantees freedom of the press but does not guarantee a hard pass, briefing room seat, or a slot in the White House press pool, according to the White House.

This sudden claim that access becomes sacred only when outlets are friendly to the left is unprecedented, according to the statement. The lawsuit came after Trump accused CNN, MSNBC, and Politico of publishing "fake news" about his administration, calling them "corrupt" and a "threat to national security." This move is part of Trump's ongoing contentious relationship with the media, which has involved direct engagement with journalists and attacks on news organizations perceived as unfavorable to his administration.