US: Justice Department probes Trump's press pool boycott for antitrust violation

The United States Department of Justice has launched an investigation into the White House press pool's decision to cease coverage of President Donald Trump last month, potential antitrust violations. According to Emily Covington, a spokesperson for the DOJ's Antitrust Division, the inquiry aims to ascertain if the news organizations involved, which include ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, have breached antitrust laws.

Jose Zamora, the regional director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, expressed concern over the administration's decision, arguing that it risks intimidating media outlets advocating for press access. In September 21, a group of five broadcasters halted presidential coverage following the Trump administration's ban on CNN, MSNBC, and Politico from the White House, citing the coverage of the president as a "privilege, not a right."

Consequently, the five television networks halted coverage in protest and declined to provide replacement programming. The networks also filed a lawsuit against the administration, alleging violations of free speech and press rights under the First Amendment of the US Constitution and asserting retaliation for their coverage. The White House reinstated the press credentials on September 24 after a US district judge ordered the administration to immediately return, reinstate, and restore the access.

The Trump administration has often referred to mainstream media as "fake news" and clashed with reporters during interviews. The White House press pool is a rotating group of news outlets responsible for covering the president and accompanying him on official duties. CNN is one of the five major news organizations that comprise the primary White House television pool, sharing the cost of covering the president and taking turns organizing coverage and sharing footage with outlets across the country. The White House press pool's actions have become emblematic of a broader battle over press freedom.