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CNN Resumes White House Coverage After Court Order
Confirmed
In Short: The major television networks resumed White House pool coverage of President Donald Trump on Friday, ending a dayslong suspension after the administration barred CNN from participating in the rotation.
On Friday, CNN was assigned to cover the National Archives tour with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while the other networks handled coverage at the White House.
The networks had suspended their rotating pool coverage Monday after the White House prevented CNN from carrying out its scheduled duties.
A federal judge ordered the White House to restore access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico early Thursday, prompting the networks to resume their collective coverage.
The dispute began after Trump accused CNN, MS NOW, and Politico of false or negative coverage and excluded them from White House grounds.
In response, the five networks that share television pool duties — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC — suspended pool coverage earlier in the week.
The networks' refusal to provide a replacement camera left the first two days of Xi’s visit without the customary shared television coverage.
Hours after CNN regained access, the network said the White House blocked its journalists from flying with Trump on Air Force One on Saturday as he travels to Tennessee.
Bruce Brown, the President of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the ban was significant because it affected the public’s access to White House coverage.
The temporary order did not decide the outlets’ broader First Amendment challenge.
The networks had suspended pool operations in solidarity after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the complex.
What this adds
The networks resumed coverage after CNN received logistical instructions for Friday’s assignment at the National Archives.
The White House has not released a specific source of government funding used to air the ads.
This report is based on Reuters reporting published and updated on September 25, with additional court-order details.
Background
President Donald Trump banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from covering the White House, prompting the outlets to file a lawsuit on Monday.
What's confirmed
- On Friday, CNN was assigned to cover the National Archives tour with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while the other networks handled coverage at the White House.
- The networks had suspended their rotating pool coverage Monday after the White House prevented CNN from carrying out its scheduled duties.
- A federal judge ordered the White House to restore access to CNN, MS NOW, and Politico early Thursday, prompting the networks to resume their collective coverage.
- The dispute began after Trump accused CNN, MS NOW, and Politico of false or negative coverage and excluded them from White House grounds.
- In response, the five networks that share television pool duties — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC — suspended pool coverage earlier in the week.
- The networks' refusal to provide a replacement camera left the first two days of Xi’s visit without the customary shared television coverage.
- Hours after CNN regained access, the network said the White House blocked its journalists from flying with Trump on Air Force One on Saturday as he travels to Tennessee.
- Bruce Brown, the President of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said the ban was significant because it affected the public’s access to White House coverage.
- The temporary order did not decide the outlets’ broader First Amendment challenge.
- The networks had suspended pool operations in solidarity after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the complex.
What's still developing
- Kelly’s ruling did not directly address CNN’s place in the television pool, and the networks continued withholding pool coverage Thursday while seeking assurances that CNN would be permitted to resume its regular duties.
- The museum houses original copies of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution.
- ATTRIBUTION: This report is based on Reuters reporting published and updated on September 25, with additional court-order details.
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- The White House has not released a specific source of government funding used to air the ads.