White House removes CNN from television press pool for Trump trip

CNN reporters have been barred from travelling with President Donald Trump on a planned Saturday trip to Tennessee after the White House excluded the network from the television press-pool schedule. A schedule released on Friday evening did not list CNN or any of the television networks normally included in the rotation. It instead named a “Secondary TV” correspondent and crew from Lindell TV, a pro-Trump outlet run by businessman Mike Lindell, described in the source material as a close ally of the president.

The press pool is a rotating group of journalists who travel with the president and share coverage with other outlets because space is limited. CNN had been scheduled to serve as the television network in the pool for the trip. The decision follows a broader dispute between the White House and several news organisations.

Trump last week sought to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing them of providing only negative coverage of him. Journalists from the three outlets were subsequently blocked from entering the White House complex. A judge ordered their access temporarily restored, ruling that Trump’s action was likely unconstitutional.

Earlier in the week, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC jointly halted pool coverage of the White House while CNN’s access remained revoked. The broadcasters said the public had an important interest in receiving accurate, independent information about the government and that access should not be restricted because an administration objected to reporting. CNN declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

The White House also did not respond to a request for comment.