In support of CNN, excluded from the White House by Donald Trump, the four other American channels constituting the presidential “pool”, CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox, decided, Monday, September 21, to cease their coverage, according to a press release of which AFP has seen.
This is an unprecedented initiative since the Republican leader’s return to power, and it follows his decision to block access to journalists from CNN, the MS Now channel and the online media Politico.
“Starting today, the TV ‘pool’ will not cover events involving the president that fall under the ‘pool’ coverage,” said Bryan Boughton, Fox representative and organizer of the group of channels.
Also read“Effective immediately”: Trump announces banning CNN and two other media outlets from the White House
“It is vital for the general public to receive correct and independent information about the government. No administration should restrict the access of a press organization because it does not agree with its coverage,” the five channels of the presidential “pool” also indicated in a press release.
The mission of the White House “pool” is to film the American president throughout the day and distribute the images thus produced, following a principle of rotation between these five otherwise competing channels.
A comparable system exists for print journalists, agencies and photographers. Participating in the “pool” ensures privileged access to the American president, and the media that are part of it undertake in return to share the images, statements and observations collected.
CNN should have provided this “pool” function on Monday and during Donald Trump’s trip to New York, from Monday to Wednesday, for the UN General Assembly.
CNN, Politico and MS NOW take legal action
For their part, CNN, MS NOW and Politico announced on Monday that they were taking legal action against the government of Donald Trump, who accused part of the press of representing “a threat to national security”.
“This morning, we notified the government that we are today initiating legal proceedings to defend our rights under the First Amendment and the principle that the government does not decide what the press publishes,” they jointly said in a statement on X.
“Without notice or due process, the White House revoked our credentials because it challenges our coverage. To allow this to happen unchallenged would threaten press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government pressure,” they argue.
“A threat to our national security”
In a message published on his Truth Social platform shortly after this announcement, Donald Trump denied leading an offensive against the “free press”.
He said he was attacking “FALSE NEWS, something that has spread like a cancer within our beloved United States of America.” “This poses a threat to our national security and must be stopped, NOW!” he added.
During his first term and since his return to power in early 2025, Donald Trump has repeatedly attacked journalists or media outlets whose coverage he displeases, whether in court, on Truth Social or verbally during sometimes very violent exchanges with journalists, particularly women.
He also removed the Associated Press news agency, a pillar of American journalism, from the Oval Office after the latter refused to adopt the name “Gulf of America” for the Gulf of Mexico.
This new ban comes at a time of great political difficulty for the Republican president in the run-up to the midterm elections on November 3.
Less than two months before the election, Donald Trump is increasingly unpopular because of the high cost of living in the United States and the soaring price of fuel, but also the war he launched in Iran, the outcome more uncertain than ever.
With AFP
