Networks Decline TV Pool Coverage of Trump in Response to CNN Ban

Television networks on Sept. 21 are declining TV pool coverage of President Donald Trump, in the latest move in an escalating row between the president and some news outlets.

“Effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President,” Chris Boughton, acting chair of the group of outlets that typically provides television pool coverage of Trump, wrote in a note to members of the pool.

“This follows the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties. There will be no replacement pool put in place.”

The White House declined to comment, referring to a Trump post on Truth Social.

The president wrote on Monday: “The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America. It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!”

CNN and Fox News are two of the networks that rotate providing television broadcasts of Trump’s remarks. The other outlets are CBS, NBC, and ABC.

“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government,” the five outlets said in a joint statement. “No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”

Television outlets pressured the Obama administration in 2009 after officials planned to exclude Fox from an interview with an administration official. The pressure ultimately led to the administration allowing Fox to participate.

Trump was slated on Monday to participate in meetings and a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Washington. He was scheduled to speak at the U.N. General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday.

CNN had been the scheduled TV pool representative for Monday, but the White House removed the outlet from the schedule.

Trump also recently blocked CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House, accusing the outlets of repeatedly publishing fake news and articles that focused on negative developments while omitting positive stories.

“We’re not going to give you special access to the White House if you engage in what is effectively propaganda,” Vice President JD Vance told reporters in Maryland on Monday.

The outlets sued Trump and others on Monday over what they described as unconstitutional interference with press freedom.

“The Constitution protects the liberty and property interests that news organizations and White House reporters have in their press credentials and the access those credentials afford them to cover the White House for the benefit of the public,” the outlets said in the lawsuit.

“No official can deprive Plaintiffs of those interests on a whim—with no notice, no process, and no warning—as the President did here.”

At least one other part of the pool coverage was proceeding on Monday.

Joe Reberkenny, a reporter with the Washington Blade who was assigned as the print representative, sent an update to the pool at 10:17 a.m., listing the president’s schedule and the weather in Washington.