Major television networks in the United States announced on Monday that they will stop jointly covering public events featuring President Donald Trump in Washington.
The decision by CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox comes in solidarity with CNN, which was banned from White House access by the presidential administration alongside digital outlets MS NOW and Politico.
In response to the ban, CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a joint lawsuit in federal court in Washington accusing the Trump administration of attempting to restrict freedom of the press.
Trump announced on Friday that he was barring reporters from the three news outlets from entering the White House, characterising the ban as punishment for broadcasting and publishing what he termed fake news.
Network boycott of presidential coverage
The major television networks had previously operated a shared rotation system alongside CNN to film presidential proceedings. In American journalism, this collaborative arrangement is known as a pool, where a single designated camera crew records an event and shares the video footage with competing channels.
The White House Press Corps relies heavily on pool coverage to report on executive activities in restricted spaces, such as the Oval Office, formal signing ceremonies and presidential travel aboard Air Force One. The decision by major networks to halt pool rotation leaves a significant gap in television coverage that impacts both news organisations and the executive branch itself.
Trump, a former real estate developer and reality television personality who served as the 45th president before returning to office, has long maintained a contentious relationship with news organisations. He frequently accuses major media companies of presenting a negative image of his presidency, though he routinely watches television news throughout the day.
During routine White House proceedings, Trump frequently receives the press pool in the Oval Office. He regularly answers questions on a range of policy topics while using the live broadcasts to criticise or mock gathered journalists.
Legal challenge over First Amendment
The three barred news organisations stated in their legal filing that they brought the lawsuit to defend the principle that the government does not hold authority to dictate what the press reports or publishes.
According to court documents consulted by AFP, the news outlets argued that the presidential ban failed to observe basic due process standards, including advance notification based on clear criteria and an opportunity for affected journalists to be heard.
In the United States legal system, freedom of the press is guaranteed under the First Amendment of the Constitution, which prohibits government actions that restrict independent journalism or speech.
The lawsuit states that Trump made no secret that his order was intended to penalise protected expression. Filings note that the president explicitly declared he selected CNN, MS NOW and Politico due to their cumulative reporting over the previous two years.
The media organisations have requested an emergency court order to suspend the presidential ban immediately. The federal judge overseeing the case has summoned all parties to appear for a court hearing on Wednesday.
Trump reaction and streaming alternative
Trump reaffirmed his stance in a post on his social media platform Truth Social on Monday, asserting that he was conducting a broader campaign against fake news, which he described as a cancer that has grown in the United States.
The president wrote that improper news reporting poses a threat to national security and demanded that it stop immediately.
In a subsequent message, Trump appeared to acknowledge the possibility of a legal setback, stating that the administration would almost certainly choose to file an appeal as usual.
Trump denied that the White House was conducting an attack on the free press, stating that he values press freedom deeply. However, he argued that media organisations should not be allowed to report fiction and lies while covering the president.
The Republican leader has for years blamed news organisations, including CNN, for promoting allegations of Russian collusion during his first presidential term. He has also expressed anger over news reports citing anonymous military sources regarding challenges faced by the United States in its war with Iran.
On Monday evening, the White House launched an online streaming channel called Trump TV, which officials stated would display top videos, major speeches and key highlights broadcast 24 hours a day in real time. When the service went live, it was broadcasting archival footage of a speech Trump delivered on July 3 at Mount Rushmore in South Dakota.
Previous legal precedents in White House
The legal dispute follows similar conflicts over White House access during Trump's first presidential term between 2017 and 2021. During that period, the White House revoked the press credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta, but federal courts ordered the administration to restore his access within days. A separate credential ban targeting the Associated Press news agency was likewise overturned by the courts.
The federal judge assigned to preside over the lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW and Politico is District Judge Tim Kelly, the same magistrate who previously ordered the White House to reinstate Acosta's credentials.
Trump acknowledged the judicial assignment on Truth Social, noting that the case was assigned to Judge Tim Kelly and expressing frustration that Kelly was originally appointed to the bench by Trump himself.
