Major news networks that cover the White House and official press briefings have halted their pooled television coverage of President Donald Trump. This decision comes in response to Trump’s recent ban on CNN, Politico, and MS Now, which he accused of spreading “fake news” about him and his administration.
The networks involved in the White House television pool include ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News Media, and NBC News. In unity with CNN, which was removed from the pool rotation on Friday, these networks issued a joint statement emphasizing the public’s right to receive accurate information about the government.
“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government,” the statement read. “No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”
Reportedly, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins noted that Fox News Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton, who is also the chair of the White House TV pool, communicated to the other networks that CNN’s slot would not have a replacement, effectively stopping pool coverage of the president.
“This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the president,” he indicated. “This follows the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties. There will be no replacement pool put in place.”
This boycott happens at a time when President Trump is poised for a busy week in diplomacy. He is expected to meet with various world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, attend the UN General Assembly, and jointly host Chinese President Xi Jinping with First Lady Melania Trump during his state visit.
