Major US TV networks suspend Trump coverage in protest
431 Min Read
Major US television networks have suspended their shared coverage of President Donald Trump’s White House events in protest against restrictions imposed on several news organisations. ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC said on Monday that the decision followed the White House preventing CNN from carrying out its assigned duties in the presidential media pool. CNN, MS NOW and Politico had been denied access to the White House grounds and had their passes confiscated after Trump criticised their reporting.
The networks said the public had a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about government and that administrations should not restrict news organisations because of their reporting.
Other media organisations, including the Associated Press, AFP, The Washington Post and The New York Times, also withheld photographs from presidential events. The dispute meant there was no live television pool coverage of Trump’s White House helipad opening or his visit to the United Nations General Assembly.
The affected organisations have also launched legal action, describing the restrictions as an attack on press freedom and the First Amendment. The White House has defended its position, while Vice President JD Vance accused the outlets of political bias.
