Four major US television networks have suspended pooled coverage of President Donald Trump in solidarity with CNN after the White House barred the network from serving as a television pool provider.
ABC News, CBS News, NBC News and Fox News joined CNN — the fifth network participating in the television pool — in taking the action on Monday, marking an unusual collective response to restrictions imposed on one of their fellow news organisations.
“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government,” the five networks said in a joint statement.
“No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”
The suspension followed the Trump administration’s decision to prevent CNN from carrying out its scheduled duties as the designated White House television pool provider on Monday, September 21. With the other networks declining to replace CNN, there was no television pooler providing coverage for the day.
The White House pool system allows participating news organisations to share footage and reporting from presidential events where logistical or space restrictions prevent all media outlets from attending independently.
The dispute comes as CNN, MS NOW and Politico have launched legal action against Trump and three White House officials over the administration’s decision to bar the three organisations from the White House.
The outlets allege that the restrictions violate the First Amendment, arguing that the government cannot deny press access because it objects to an organisation’s reporting.