New York Times and Washington Post Withhold White House Pool Photos as Media Protest Expands

September 22, 2026 — Major U.S. news organizations have expanded their protest over President Donald Trump’s restrictions on CNN, MS NOW and Politico, temporarily withholding photographs and suspending pooled television coverage.

The New York Times and The Washington Post temporarily withheld photographs from President Donald Trump’s official events Monday, joining a broader media protest over White House restrictions imposed on three news organizations.

The Times said it would not publish or distribute still images produced through the White House photography pool until midnight, aligning with other pool members supporting CNN, MS NOW and Politico.

The Washington Post adopted a similar temporary restriction, saying it would withhold photographs from Trump’s White House departure and United Nations appearances until midnight Eastern Time as part of the coordinated action.

The photography protest followed an earlier decision by the five major television pool networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC — to suspend pooled video coverage after CNN was excluded.

Trump announced Friday that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House, accusing the organizations of publishing false coverage and describing their reporting as “fake news.”

Reporters from all three organizations were subsequently denied entry to White House grounds, with journalists saying their press credentials were deactivated or confiscated when they attempted to enter the complex.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico responded Monday by filing a federal lawsuit seeking restoration of their access, arguing that the restrictions violate First Amendment protections and constitutional due-process guarantees.

The administration has defended its position by saying White House access is a privilege rather than an unconditional right, while Trump has insisted his actions target what he considers inaccurate journalism.

The White House Correspondents’ Association has urged the administration to restore access, warning that excluding organizations because officials object to their coverage could establish a standard affecting other outlets.

The television-pool dispute became especially visible Monday because CNN had been scheduled to provide camera coverage for Trump’s activities, including his departure for events connected with the United Nations General Assembly.

When CNN was removed from that assignment, the other television networks declined to provide a substitute crew, leaving the normal shared broadcast feed unavailable for several presidential events during the day.

At a White House helipad ribbon-cutting ceremony, available footage lacked the television pool’s usual audio setup, making portions of Trump’s remarks difficult to hear over surrounding helicopter noise.

The press pool exists because many presidential events occur in spaces too small for every news organization, so selected reporters, photographers and camera crews gather material and distribute it broadly.

Although the White House took greater control over some pool selections in 2025, the major television networks continued rotating camera responsibilities until the latest dispute involving CNN’s scheduled assignment.

The New York Times and Washington Post actions extended the protest from television into still photography, while other newsrooms also limited use of pool images during Monday’s presidential schedule.

The temporary photo restrictions did not amount to a complete news blackout. Reporters continued covering Trump’s activities through other channels, including written reporting, independent sourcing and publicly available government feeds.

The legal case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, and the three organizations are seeking emergency relief while the broader constitutional dispute proceeds through federal court.

Past court disputes over White House credentials have examined whether the government may revoke established press access without adequate process, particularly when an outlet argues the decision was based on viewpoint.

Trump has maintained that his administration supports a free press while distinguishing between legitimate journalism and coverage he labels false, a position strongly disputed by the organizations challenging the restrictions.

The confrontation now places White House access, press-pool cooperation and constitutional protections under renewed scrutiny, with the courts likely to determine whether the administration’s selective bans can remain in effect.

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