Major US networks suspend Trump coverage after White House access ban

Major US television networks have suspended their pool coverage of President Donald Trump after the White House barred three news organisations from access and confiscated their press passes. The dispute has escalated into a broader boycott of Trump coverage, affecting live reporting from White House events and the president's trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The move marks an unusual breakdown in the normal pool system that allows a small group of outlets to share coverage of presidential appearances.

Sponsored

According to the information provided, journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House grounds on Saturday. Their passes were confiscated, and CNN was removed from its pool duties, which are shared by the five major networks. The current chair of the pool, Fox Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton, said in an email that the TV pool would not cover events designated as pool coverage of the president and that there would be no replacement coverage.

The email said the decision followed the White House's position preventing CNN from carrying out its assigned duties. The immediate effect was visible on Monday, when Trump's opening of a new White House helipad and his trip to the United Nations General Assembly went ahead without live television coverage from the pool. The ribbon-cutting ceremony on the South Lawn was streamed only on the White House website, and Trump's remarks were inaudible because there were no pool microphones.

In a separate show of solidarity, several other outlets, including The Associated Press, AFP, The Washington Post and The New York Times, decided not to publish photographs of presidential events on Monday. The five major networks - ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC - also issued a joint statement defending the public's interest in accurate and independent information. The dispute matters because it goes to the core of how presidential events are covered and how access is distributed among news organisations.

Sponsored

The pool system is designed to ensure that a limited number of reporters and camera crews can relay events to the wider public when space is restricted. When that system breaks down, coverage can become fragmented, delayed or dependent on official channels, which can limit independent scrutiny of the presidency. The row also comes at a time when Trump is using a new White House streaming channel, launched on Monday evening, to distribute video content directly.

The White House said the new channel, called "Trump TV," would show "top videos, major remarks, and must-see highlights" around the clock and in real time. When it went online, it was showing archive footage of Trump delivering a speech at Mount Rushmore on July 3. Vice President JD Vance accused the news outlets of spreading what he called "effectively far-left propaganda," and said they could still report but would no longer have an office in the White House.

The comments underline the political tension surrounding the access dispute and the administration's approach to press relations. What remains unclear is how long the boycott will last and whether the White House will restore access to the barred organisations. It is also not yet clear whether the suspension of pool coverage will affect future presidential events beyond the immediate dispute.

#Networks #Suspend #Trump #Coverage #White

Sponsored