Major Networks Suspend Trump Coverage After White House Bans Media Outlets
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Major Networks Suspend Trump Coverage After White House Bans Media Outlets
- On Monday, September 21, 2026, major US television networks halted their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump in protest after the White House banned CNN, MS NOW, and Politico.
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The ban, which began on Saturday, September 19, 2026, led CNN, MS NOW, and Politico to file a lawsuit in federal court, alleging violations of First Amendment rights.
In an unprecedented move on Monday, September 21, 2026, major American television networks, including ABC, CBS, Fox News, and NBC, suspended their shared “pool” coverage of President Donald Trump. This collective action was a direct response to the White House’s decision to ban three prominent news organizations—CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), and Politico—from accessing the White House grounds.
The controversy began on Friday, September 18, 2026, when President Trump announced his intention to ban the outlets, citing what he called “fake news” and unfavorable coverage. By Saturday, September 19, 2026, reporters from CNN, MS NOW, and Politico were denied entry to the White House and had their press credentials confiscated.
In response, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed a lawsuit in a federal district court in Washington D.C. on Monday, September 21, 2026. They are alleging violations of their First Amendment rights, which protect freedom of the press, and due process under the Fifth Amendment. The lawsuit seeks an immediate lifting of the ban and a ruling that the restrictions are unconstitutional.
The television networks’ decision to suspend pool coverage means there will be no designated TV cameras filming President Trump during his scheduled events, including his trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. This pooling system, where one network covers an event for all others, has been in place since President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration. The White House Correspondents’ Association also issued a statement on Saturday, September 19, 2026, pressing the Trump administration to revoke its ban, emphasizing that access cannot be denied arbitrarily or based on content.