DOJ Probes Major Networks Over White House Event Boycott Allegations
U.S. Department of Justice investigates major news networks for alleged boycott of White House events.
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating several major television networks for an alleged boycott of events at the White House following President Donald Trump’s ban on CNN and other outlets. The probe includes ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News, as officials have reportedly requested internal communications and documents related to their joint coverage.
Focus on White House Television Pool
The investigation centers on the White House television pool, a decades-old arrangement where broadcasters take turns recording presidential events and distributing footage to other news organizations. According to a report by Daily Mail, the DOJ is examining whether the networks violated antitrust laws by allegedly boycotting coverage of White House events.
Trump’s Ban and Antitrust Concerns
The inquiry follows President Trump’s September statement banning Politico, MS Now, and CNN from the White House, citing fake news. A DOJ official told NBC News that members of the television press pool have boycotted covering White House events, and that such group boycotts can violate the Sherman Act. The Antitrust Division is investigating to determine if the networks broke antitrust laws by withdrawing their services in protest.
Historical Context and Public Trust
According to the Daily Mail, the Sherman Act prohibits certain agreements between businesses that unlawfully restrain competition. While the networks have historically cooperated through the White House pool to ensure coverage of presidential events, officials are now assessing whether that cooperation was compromised when the networks withdrew their services. In February 2025, Trump launched a large-scale offensive against media bias, and public trust in mass media plummeted to its lowest point in over 50 years.
Source: Breitbart
