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Networks Halt TV Pool Coverage of Trump in Protest of CNN Ban
Developing
In Short: Major networks have halted their TV pool coverage of President Trump's trip to the United Nations General Assembly in protest of his ban on CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from White House access.
On Friday, President Trump announced a ban on CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from White House access due to their negative coverage of him. In response, CNN, Politico, and MS NOW filed a lawsuit against the administration, claiming First Amendment retaliation and violation of due process.
The White House had scheduled CNN to serve as the pool network for Trump's trip to New York, but the White House released a revised schedule late Sunday showing CNN would no longer be part of the rotation.
Print and radio pool coverage will continue, as well as secondary TV poolers, ensuring that the president's movements will still be covered by print and wire journalists, as well as still photographers.
Bryan Boughton of Fox News, the current chair of the TV pool, wrote in a memo, 'This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President.
The freeze on TV pool coverage comes as Trump is set to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, an eventful week for the president.
Trump, in a social media post, insisted he's targeting 'FAKE NEWS,' not the free press, but the networks' decision to halt coverage is a significant protest against the administration's actions.
What this adds
The networks' decision to halt TV pool coverage is a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between the White House and the press corps, highlighting the potential impact of the ban on CNN and other outlets.
What's still developing
- When Donald Trump travels to New York on Monday, there will be no primary TV pool, after major networks declined to replace CNN in the regular rotation after it was banned from White House and other coverage of the president.
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- TV cameras won't be trailing President Trump on Monday in the usual way—and this time that's by choice of the networks, not the White House.
- "All other pool coverage will continue as normal, including Congress, VIPs, and selected events in Washington and around the country." The freeze comes days after CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were barred from the White House grounds and had their badges pulled.
Sources
- Newserlink