US TV NETWORKS SUSPEND TRUMP COVERAGE AFTER WHITE HOUSE BANS THREE MEDIA OUTLETS

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Agency report

ABC, CBS, Fox News, CNN, and NBC have suspended their pooled television coverage of US President Donald Trump after the White House barred CNN, MS. Now, and Politico from its premises.

The five networks, which make up the White House television pool, traditionally take turns covering the President’s movements and events, with footage shared with other news organisations.

CNN was scheduled to provide the pool coverage on Monday and accompany Trump to New York, where he is expected to attend events linked to the United Nations General Assembly.

However, after CNN was prevented from carrying out its scheduled assignment, the other pool members declined to provide a replacement crew, meaning no network television pool team travelled with the President.

In a joint statement, the five networks said the public has a right to receive independent information about the government.

“No administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting,” the networks said.

The decision came after Trump announced that CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House.

Trump accused the outlets of publishing “fake news” and reporting negatively about his administration. The three media organisations were denied access to the White House, with their press credentials revoked.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico subsequently filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration on Monday, arguing that the ban violated their First Amendment rights and was imposed without due process. They are seeking the restoration of their access to the White House.

The three organisations said the White House revoked their journalists’ access because of their reporting and argued that the action threatened press freedom and the public’s access to independent journalism.

Trump defended the decision in a post on Truth Social, saying the White House was not attacking the free press but was instead targeting what he called “FAKE NEWS”.

He described the targeted media organisations as “corrupt” and accused them of producing coordinated and inaccurate reports, which he said posed a threat to US national security.

The White House has not indicated whether the five-network pool will resume if CNN’s access to the White House is restored.