Major TV Networks Suspend Trump Coverage After CNN Ban
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Major TV Networks Suspend Trump Coverage After CNN Ban
- On Monday, September 21, 2026, major television networks announced they would suspend pooled coverage of President Trump's events after the White House barred CNN from its assigned pool duties.
- CNN, MS NOW, and Politico stated they would file a lawsuit on Monday, September 21, 2026, against the Trump administration, arguing the ban violates First Amendment rights.
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Major television networks have decided to suspend their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump’s events, effective Monday, September 21, 2026. This decision comes after the White House prevented CNN from fulfilling its scheduled duties as the primary TV pool representative. The TV pool, which includes ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC, operates on a rotation to share the responsibility of covering presidential activities and distributing footage to news organizations worldwide.
The suspension means that no television camera crew will be traveling with the President, an unusual development. CNN was slated to serve as the primary TV pool for Monday, including for President Trump’s travel to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. However, the White House’s Sunday night schedule did not list a primary TV pool network, instead naming a secondary crew from Hearst and a small pro-Trump network, Real America’s Voice.
This escalation follows President Trump’s announcement on Friday, September 18, 2026, that he was banning CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), and Politico from the White House due to what he described as “fake news” and unfavorable coverage. Reporters from these three outlets were denied entry and had their press passes revoked on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
In response, CNN, MS NOW, and Politico issued a joint statement on Monday, September 21, 2026, announcing their intention to file a lawsuit against the Trump administration. They argue that the ban constitutes a direct assault on the First Amendment and an unconstitutional restriction on press freedom. The lawsuit, filed in a Washington, D.C., federal court, seeks an immediate restoration of access for their journalists. The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has also condemned the administration’s actions, stating that revoking access based on content violates the First Amendment.