3 hrs ago
US Broadcasters Suspend White House Pool After Trump Bans Outlets
The White House stopped journalists from CNN, MS NOW and Politico from entering its grounds.
The three news organizations said this was unfair and sued the administration.
They said the decision violated the First Amendment, which protects freedom of speech.
Five major broadcasters then paused their shared system for covering the White House.
The broadcasters said the public needs accurate information about its government.
Because of the pause, there was no shared television coverage of Trump’s scheduled trip to New York.
Trump said the restrictions were not an attack on the free press.
He called what he described as fake news a threat and a cancer.
The disagreement is about whether the White House can limit access because it dislikes a news organization’s reporting.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico were barred from the White House and had their journalists’ access passes confiscated.
The three outlets filed a lawsuit alleging the ban violated their First Amendment rights and restricted independent journalism.
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC suspended their rotating White House television pool in solidarity.
The suspension meant there was no pooled television coverage of Trump’s scheduled New York trip for the United Nations General Assembly.
Trump defended the restrictions, calling the media a threat and accusing the outlets of publishing cumulative and politically damaging stories.
- Who
- President Donald Trump, his administration, CNN, MS NOW, Politico, ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC.
- What
- The White House barred three outlets, those outlets filed a First Amendment lawsuit, and five broadcasters suspended their rotating White House television pool.
- Where
- The White House and presidential complex in Washington, with the suspended coverage involving Trump’s scheduled trip to New York.
- When
- The ban was announced on Friday, journalists were denied entry on Saturday, and the broadcasters suspended pool coverage on Monday.
- Why
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico said the administration objected to their reporting; Trump said the restrictions targeted what he called fake news and referred to cumulative stories and efforts to diminish Republicans and a Republican administration.
News organizations
Trump administration
White House access
News organizations
CNN, MS NOW and Politico said their credentials were revoked without notice or process because the White House objected to their reporting.
Trump administration
The Trump administration imposed the restrictions, while Trump said the action was directed at what he called fake news rather than the free press.
First Amendment and press freedom
News organizations
The three outlets argued that the ban was a direct assault on the First Amendment and threatened the public’s right to independent journalism.
Trump administration
Trump said the White House was not instituting an assault on the free press and defended the restrictions as a response to coverage he criticized.
Shared television coverage
News organizations
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC suspended the rotating White House pool, saying no administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.
Trump administration
Trump warned that other media organizations could face similar restrictions and said the outlets’ coverage involved cumulative stories that sought to diminish Republicans and a Republican administration.
Key facts
- Restricted outlets
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico
- Access action
- Journalists from the three outlets were denied entry to the White House grounds and had access passes confiscated.
- Legal action
- CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a lawsuit seeking an immediate reversal of the ban.
- Broadcasters suspending pool coverage
- ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC
- Constitutional claim
- The three restricted outlets said the ban violated the First Amendment.
- Pool consequence
- There was no pooled television coverage of Trump’s scheduled New York trip for the United Nations General Assembly.
- Trump’s response
- Trump said the White House was not attacking the free press and described fake news as a threat and a cancer.
Quotes
ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC
Major US television broadcasters participating in the White House coverage pool
“The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish. It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.”
firstpost.com
NDTV
“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting.”
firstpost.com
NDTV
Sources
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