Major U.S. TV Networks Suspend White House Pool Coverage After Trump Bars CNN, MS NOW and Politico

September 22, 2026 — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC have suspended their rotating television pool coverage of President Donald Trump after three news organizations were denied White House access.

Five major U.S. television networks suspended their rotating White House television pool coverage after President Donald Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from accessing the White House complex.

ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC News announced the move Monday, saying the public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government.

The dispute began Friday when Trump announced on Truth Social that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be banned immediately, accusing the three organizations of repeatedly publishing what he called “fake news.”

Journalists from all three organizations were turned away from the White House on Saturday, with reporters saying their existing credentials had been deactivated or confiscated without advance notice.

The White House Correspondents’ Association criticized the action, arguing that access should not be withdrawn because government officials dislike a news organization’s coverage, reporting decisions or questions.

White House television pooling exists because space around the president is frequently limited, allowing one participating network to record events before distributing its video feed to many other news organizations.

CNN had been scheduled to perform Monday’s television pool duties and accompany Trump during his trip to New York for events surrounding the United Nations General Assembly.

After CNN was prevented from carrying out that assignment, the remaining networks declined to send a replacement television crew, temporarily interrupting a cooperative coverage arrangement used for presidential events.

The five networks said no administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting, presenting their coordinated decision as an issue involving independent government coverage.

Fox News joined ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC in the decision, making the response notable because the participating networks often differ considerably in audiences, editorial approaches and political coverage.

The confrontation also moved into federal court Monday when CNN, MS NOW and Politico jointly sued the Trump administration and requested emergency judicial action restoring their White House credentials.

The organizations allege the restrictions violate First Amendment and due-process protections because their access was removed over their reporting without adequate notice, explanation or an opportunity for formal review.

Trump has defended his decision, accusing the targeted organizations of publishing false or unfair material and indicating that additional news outlets could potentially face restrictions over their coverage.

The White House Correspondents’ Association said the implications extend beyond the three companies because a standard used to exclude one organization could subsequently be applied against other newsrooms.

The dispute also affected visual reporting, with several organizations limiting photography of presidential events while the television pool suspension reduced independently produced video normally distributed throughout the national press corps.

The suspension does not mean all reporting on the White House has stopped. Print journalists, wire services and other correspondents continue covering presidential activities through access arrangements that vary by event.

The legal dispute is expected to examine earlier rulings concerning White House press credentials, including questions about whether established access can be removed arbitrarily or because officials object to coverage.

The confrontation comes during an unusually busy diplomatic week, with Trump traveling to New York for the United Nations General Assembly and holding meetings with American and international political leaders.

How long the television pool suspension continues could depend on White House decisions, negotiations among the networks and forthcoming court action; the networks have not announced a permanent end to coverage.

For now, the dispute has produced an unusual interruption in the decades-old system through which competing television networks cooperate to document presidential activities and distribute footage to audiences worldwide.