Mainstream Media Resumes Trump Coverage Despite CNN Ban
CNN and other outlets regain White House access after court ruling, but networks continue to challenge media restrictions.
2 min read
Following a court ruling that deemed the White House’s ban on CNN, MS Now, and Politico likely unconstitutional, the networks have resumed their coverage of President Donald Trump. However, tensions remain as major networks continue to resist full participation in the press pool, opting instead to challenge the media restrictions imposed by the administration.
Media Boycott Fails as Conservative Outlets Step In
Days after Trump announced the ban on three outlets, the five major networks, including Fox News, CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN, suspended television pool coverage of the President. Fox News Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton led the revolt by announcing the suspension of pool coverage for Trump events. However, this move backfired as Real America’s Voice took over the press pool to cover Trump’s trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly.
Real America’s Voice was later tapped to cover President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington, DC, and again for Trump’s trip to Tennessee on Air Force One. CNN was excluded from the trip, prompting continued outrage from left-wing media. The Gateway Pundit was also part of the press pool for Trump’s travel that day.
Court Orders Restore Access, But Networks Remain Uncooperative
CNN, MS Now, and Politico regained access to the White House after a judge ruled the ban unconstitutional. However, when CNN was barred from accessing Air Force One, the networks said they would continue their boycott. The New York Times reported that a tentative plan is in place for the other networks to return to pool duties, but with the condition that if CNN is included, they would replace it with a substitute crew.
Despite this, the networks reportedly refused to provide substitutes for Real America’s Voice, claiming they could not cover the White House without a pool camera. This has effectively given Trump more control over which outlets have access to his events, a situation the New York Times described as a win for the President.
While the report claims that a suspension of the TV pool would leave the public in the dark, it has been made clear that any network choosing to cover the President when Real America’s Voice is handling the duties can access the pool feed. The situation remains a point of contention, with the mainstream media continuing to challenge the administration’s media policies.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
