US: Major TV Networks Suspend White House Pool Coverage After Donald Trump Bans CNN, MS NOW and Politico

Major US television networks have suspended their shared TV pool coverage of President Donald Trump after the White House barred CNN from carrying out its scheduled duties. The move follows the administration’s decision to restrict access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, escalating a dispute between the White House and several major news organisations, according to a report.

ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC said they would suspend coverage of presidential events designated for the television pool. CNN is also one of the five networks that normally rotate responsibility for providing footage of presidential events. Donald Trump Denies ‘Assault on Free Press’ As CNN, MS NOW and Politico Sue Over White House Media Ban.

Why the TV Pool Was Suspended

The White House television pool allows the major networks to share the cost and logistics of covering the president, particularly during events where only a limited number of cameras can be accommodated. The five networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC — take turns providing live video feeds that can then be used by other news organisations.

With CNN removed from the pool, Fox News Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton, who currently chairs the pool, said there would be no replacement network for CNN and that presidential pool coverage would be suspended. Coverage of other events, including congressional and selected events around the country, would continue. Donald Trump Announces ‘AI Force’ To Oversee Artificial Intelligence, Plans To Appoint AI Czar Soon.

Trump Administration Bars Three News Organisations

The dispute began after Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House. Reporters from the three organisations were subsequently denied access to the White House grounds and had their press credentials confiscated, according to the news organisations and media reports. The outlets continued reporting from locations outside the White House.

Trump has defended the restrictions, arguing that the administration was responding to what he described as unfair or false coverage. In a social media post on Monday, he said the White House was not attacking the free press but was targeting what he called “FAKE NEWS.”

Vice President JD Vance also defended the administration’s position, saying the outlets were not being banned from journalism but were being denied special access to the White House.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico File Lawsuit

CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a lawsuit against Trump and other administration officials in federal court in Washington on Monday. The organisations argue that the restrictions violate constitutional protections for freedom of the press and free speech. They are seeking a temporary restraining order that would restore their access to the White House. The lawsuit comes as the three organisations seek to challenge the administration’s decision through the courts rather than accept the restrictions.

Impact on Presidential Coverage

The suspension of the television pool could affect how quickly video from presidential events is distributed to broadcasters and other news organisations. CNN had been scheduled to provide pool coverage during Trump's trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. After the White House prevented CNN from performing that role, the other networks decided not to establish a replacement pool.

Without the rotating pool, individual news organisations may have to arrange their own camera crews or rely on other available footage for some presidential events.

Broader Press Access Dispute

The latest confrontation is part of a wider dispute between the Trump administration and sections of the US news media over access to the White House.

Reuters reported that the Associated Press, the White House Correspondents' Association and other media organisations have criticised restrictions on press access. The AP has also been involved in separate litigation after being excluded from the group of reporters covering the president's movements.

The current lawsuit and the suspension of the presidential television pool could now place the issue of White House media access before the federal courts, with the next developments expected to depend on judicial action.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Sep 22, 2026 12:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).