Arabic version: الشبكات تعلّق تغطية تجمعات ترامب الصحفية بعد حظر CNN

According to The Guardian, NBC, ABC, CBS and Fox News halted their White House television pool coverage of President Donald Trump after CNN was barred from the White House. The networks decided to cease pooled coverage in solidarity with CNN, which had been part of the rotating arrangement.

The five networks have provided rotating video coverage of the president in the White House and during travel around the country, sharing the footage they gather. The arrangement makes the networks a near-permanent part of presidential coverage, but the other four broadcasters will not provide pool coverage for the time being.

In an email to television pool subscribers obtained by several outlets, Fox News’s Washington bureau chief said the decision to end pool coverage followed the White House’s position preventing CNN from carrying out its assigned pool duties.

The five networks issued a joint statement on Monday saying: “The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.” CNN, MS Now and Politico also filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration seeking to restore White House access, alleging that the ban violated the First Amendment and due process.