What To Know
- After Donald Trump’s administration barred members of the press pool from CNN, MS Now, and Politico from covering, other networks have joined forces to suspend coverage of the White House.
- Fox News’ bureau chief issued a statement to journalists explaining its decision to join ranks with ABC, CBS, NBC, and more.
The major news networks are teaming up to counter Donald Trump‘s ban of select networks from the White House’s press pool.
In a joint statement issued by the pool members from ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News, and NBC News, the networks said, “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.”
Fox News Washington Bureau Chief Bryan Boughton further wrote to TV pool subscribers in an email, per Politico, “This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the president. This follows the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties. There will be no replacement pool put in place.”
All of these networks will reportedly not participate in White House coverage. This move is in response to Donald Trump’s administration’s decision to ban CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the press pool.
The three barred networks announced their decision to file suit against the administration on Monday (September 21) as well, after their journalists’ credentials were revoked.
In a joint statement from CNN, MS Now, and Politico, they announced, “This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes. Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting. Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.”
Mandel NGAN / AFP via Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Donald Trump previously announced his intention to bar the networks on Truth Social on Friday, adding, “Other Fake News Media Outlets to follow.”
The networks filing suit against the administration call Trump’s move a “direct assault on the First Amendment” and a “violation of our most fundamental constitutional principles.”
Three White House reporters — Akayla Gardner of MS NOW, Betsy Klein of CNN, and Politico’s Cheyenne Haslett — are named as the plaintiffs. All three were denied entry to the White House on Saturday (September 19), and a Secret Service officer took their passes.