Trump-CNN Row Escalates As US TV Networks Suspend Pool Coverage For President’s UN Trip
Washington, September 22, 2026: US President Donald Trump’s trip to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) is set to go ahead without the usual television press pool coverage after major US networks declined to replace CNN following the White House’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from its grounds. The dispute escalated after the three news organisations sued Trump and members of…
The television press pool, which usually covers US President Donald Trump's events, has suspended its coverage for his upcoming United Nations General Assembly trip. This decision comes after CNN, MSNBC, and Politico were barred from the White House grounds by the administration, leading the three news organizations to sue over alleged violations of First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press.
As a result, major networks including Fox News, ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC have declined to replace CNN, suspending the pool coverage system. While non-television members of the press pool can continue reporting on Trump's visit to the UN, the suspension means several presidential events may lack the customary shared television footage.
The impact of the suspension was evident during a recent White House event, where Trump's remarks were barely audible due to helicopter noise, as the regular television pool coverage was absent. CNN, MSNBC, and Politico filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing that the ban on their access directly attacks the First Amendment and press freedom.
A court hearing for their request of temporary relief is scheduled for Wednesday, with Trump defending the ban as a response to the outlets' reporting of "false reports" about him.
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