US television pool resumes White House coverage after court order restores access
Television networks resumed pooled coverage of White House events after a federal judge ordered the administration to restore access for CNN, MS Now and Politico. The outlets had challenged their exclusion as unconstitutional, while other broadcasters had declined to provide cameras in solidarity during President Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping.
US television networks resumed pooled coverage of White House events on Friday after a federal judge ordered the administration to restore access for CNN, MS Now and Politico. The White House television press pool broadcast footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping arriving for tea with President Donald Trump and touring the National Archives. CNN, ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC share the cost of covering presidential events and rotate responsibility for supplying footage to other outlets.
The other networks had declined to set up cameras in solidarity with the excluded organisations. As a result, there was no pooled television coverage of Xi’s visit to Washington until Friday. The White House had barred CNN, MS Now and Politico over coverage that Mr.
Trump said was false or negative. The three outlets sued the president and members of his administration, arguing that the restrictions violated First Amendment protections for free speech and a free press, as well as their due-process rights. A federal judge ruled that the exclusion was likely unconstitutional and ordered the outlets’ immediate return.
The administration told the court on Thursday that access had been reinstated, although CNN and MS Now later said some journalists were denied entry to cover Xi’s arrival for a White House state dinner, according to The Washington Post. A lawyer for the outlets warned in court that the administration could again attempt to revoke their access while the litigation continues. Press freedom organisations and dozens of news organisations, including Reuters, filed a brief supporting the outlets and stressing the importance of access to presidential proceedings.
Mr. Trump has adopted an aggressive approach towards major news organisations since returning to office, including limiting access and attacking journalists. On Friday, he said the coverage of his meeting with Xi had been “fair”.
The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The dispute continues as the administration and the three outlets contest the scope of presidential control over access to official events and the media’s role in covering them.
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