Major US Networks Boycott White House Over CNN's Removal from Press Pool

Starting Monday, major American television networks Fox, ABC, CBS and NBC are pulling out of the joint press pool covering events involving US President Donald Trump. The move comes in response to the White House's decision to bar reporters from CNN, MS Now and Politico from presidential events.

"The public has a fundamental interest in receiving accurate and independent information about its government. No government should be able to restrict a news organization's work simply because it disagrees with its coverage," the networks said in a joint statement cited by USA Today.

According to representatives of the group, the White House's stance strips CNN of the ability to fulfill its duties within the joint press pool, and no replacement for it will be created.

Vague Accusations

As The Hill notes, Trump has not cited any specific article or report that prompted the ban on CNN, Politico and MS Now. The president has, however, said that restrictions could soon extend to other media outlets and journalists, accusing outlets he dislikes of spreading "fake news" about his administration.

CNBC points out that the five networks belong to the so-called presidential pool, taking turns covering the head of state's daily movements around Washington and the world, as well as his public remarks. The footage is then shared with other newsrooms and used by journalists who aren't physically present at the events.

A Pattern of Pressure on the Press

The White House's conflict with the media is nothing new. Back in February 2025, the Trump administration's press office announced it was taking control of how the presidential press pool would be assembled. At the time, a slot reserved for wire service representatives was eliminated, while new spots were added for "new media" — including right-wing influencers and fledgling media projects.

A year earlier, also in February, Trump revoked Associated Press journalists' access — barring them from Oval Office briefings, flights aboard Air Force One, and other events with limited press access.

The dispute stemmed from AP's refusal to adopt the name "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico," a renaming Trump had pushed through. The agency continues to refer to it as the Gulf of Mexico, though it notes that the president renamed it. AP responded by filing a lawsuit against the administration, and the legal battle remains unresolved.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz