Donald Trump’s visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York will not receive live coverage from the major US television networks on Monday, after broadcasters united to protest the White House’s decision to bar CNN and MS NOW.
Fox News, CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC—collectively known as the TV pool—are challenging the administration’s move and will not send camera crews or reporters to cover the president on Monday.
As a result, Trump’s journey to the UN for the General Assembly meeting will go uncovered by the country’s leading broadcast networks.
Conservative outlet Real America’s Voice (RAV) is expected to stream the event from the United Nations, while local television operator Hearst will cover Trump’s activities at the White House.
Bryan Boughton, Fox News’ Washington bureau chief and chair of the TV pool, oversees the logistics of presidential coverage. He confirmed in an email sent Monday morning that no TV pool personnel would be dispatched to the UN.
‘This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President,’ Boughton wrote.
‘This follows the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties. There will be no replacement pool put in place.’
The networks have not said when they will resume pooled coverage of the president.
Fox News, CNN, ABC, CBS and NBC—collectively known as the TV pool—are protesting the White House and will not send camera crews or reporters to cover the president on Monday
Television broadcast tents outside the White House stood empty Monday after Trump barred several outlets from the residence
CNN had been scheduled to provide the TV pool crew on Monday, but that plan changed after Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
The White House’s official daily schedule, distributed Sunday, confirmed that no TV pool would operate Monday and omitted CNN’s scheduled rotation.
Trump has also threatened to take action against The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The president banned the outlets on Friday, labeling them ‘fake news’ and criticizing their coverage of his administration.
‘It’s about basic fairness,’ Vice President JD Vance said of the decision Monday.
‘They can still report. They still have the access to free speech. They’re just not going to get an office in the White House anymore.’
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When journalists from the barred outlets arrived at the White House to work over the weekend, some had their press credentials revoked.
The major broadcasters rallied behind the affected organizations, issuing a forceful statement condemning the president’s decision.
CNN Senior White House Reporter Betsy Klein, right, leaves after her credential was revoked Saturday, following Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico
MS NOW White House Correspondent Vaughn Hillyard reports from a street corner outside the White House on Monday after his network was barred
‘The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government,’ the broadcasters said. ‘No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.’
Asked for a response, the White House pointed to a social media post Trump published earlier Monday.
‘The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish,’ Trump wrote. ‘It is instituting an assault on the fake news, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.’
‘It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, now!’
Although CNN has been barred from the White House, its journalists and crew covered Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. The appearance indicated that the White House restriction does not apply to coverage involving other government departments.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico, the three outlets targeted by Trump, said they would challenge the administration’s action in court.
‘This morning, we notified the government that we are filing a lawsuit today to protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes,’ the outlets said in a statement Monday.
‘Without notice or process, the White House revoked our journalists’ credentials because it objected to our reporting,’ the statement added.
‘Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference.’
US District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee from the president’s first term, is overseeing the case and has dealt with a similar dispute before.
In 2018, Kelly ordered the White House to restore the credentials of CNN reporter Jim Acosta after his press pass was revoked following a tense exchange with Trump.
The White House also posted an enigmatic message on social media Monday showing a television screen filled with static and the caption: ‘Something’s coming. Stay tuned.’
