US networks suspend Trump coverage after White House bars three media outlets

Five major US television networks, ABC, CBS, Fox News, CNN and NBC have suspended their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump after the White House restricted access to three media organisations.

The networks traditionally share the responsibility and cost of covering presidential events, with footage made available to other news outlets. They also take turns providing the pool coverage.

CNN was scheduled to handle the pool coverage on Monday and travel with Trump to New York, where the US president is expected to attend events connected to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

The decision to suspend the arrangement comes amid growing tensions between the White House and some media organisations over access to presidential activities.

The suspension means there will be no network television pool team travelling with the president.

In a joint statement, the five networks said the public has a right to receive independent information about the government.

“No administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting,” the networks said.

The decision came after Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House.

Trump accused the outlets of publishing “fake news” and reporting negatively about his administration. CNN, MS NOW and Politico were denied access to the White House on Saturday, with their press credentials revoked.

The three media organisations filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, arguing that the ban violated their First Amendment rights and was imposed without due process.

They said the White House had revoked their journalists’ credentials because of their reporting and argued that the action threatened press freedom and the public’s access to independent journalism.

Trump defended the decision in a post on Truth Social, saying the White House was not attacking the free press but was instead targeting what he called “FAKE NEWS”.

He described the targeted media organisations as “corrupt” and accused them of producing coordinated and inaccurate reports, which he said posed a threat to US national security.

The White House has not indicated whether the five-network pool will resume if CNN’s access to the White House is restored.

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