Major television networks agree to suspend pool coverage of Trump after White House bans CNN

The decision escalates a showdown between the Trump administration and the legacy media outlets following Trump's decision to ban MS NOW, CNN and Politico reporters from entering the White House.

Published: September 21, 2026 10:17am

Major television networks agreed on Monday to suspend their pooled coverage of President Donald Trump after the White House refused to allow CNN to serve as a pool representative. 

The decision escalates a showdown between the Trump administration and the legacy media outlets following Trump's decision to ban MS NOW, CNN and Politico reporters from entering the White House, the New York Times reported

Those networks plan to file a lawsuit against Trump over the ban. 

For years, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC have shared television coverage of presidential events, pooling the financial costs and distributing the footage that is aired by news organizations globally. The networks perform these duties on a rotation, and CNN had been scheduled to cover Trump's travel to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday. 

Print, radio and wire journalists are still expected to cover the president's activities, along with their photographers. 

Bryan Boughton, the Washington bureau chief at Fox News, wrote in a note to television pool members on Monday that the TV pool would be suspended as a result of CNN being turned away from the White House, adding that updates will come as the situation develops. 

 

 

 

 

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