The White House has barred CNN from travelling with President Donald Trump aboard Air Force One for his trip to Tennessee on Saturday, renewing a dispute over media access days after a federal judge ordered the administration to restore access to the network.
CNN had been scheduled to serve in the television press pool covering Trump’s visit to Knoxville, where he is due to attend a college football game between the University of Tennessee and the University of Texas.
A White House media schedule released on Friday night did not list CNN among the outlets assigned to the trip. Reuters reported that the decision followed the administration’s earlier restrictions on CNN and two other news organisations.
The development comes days after Trump announced that CNN, Politico and MS NOW would be barred from the White House, accusing the organisations of publishing what he called false or fabricated reports. The outlets rejected the accusations and challenged the restrictions in court. US District Judge Timothy Kelly subsequently ordered the administration to restore access to journalists from the three organisations. This came after he found that their exclusion was likely unconstitutional. The order was issued as a temporary measure while the broader legal dispute continues.
The latest restriction concerns presidential travel and the television press pool, rather than the general White House grounds. The pool rotates among major television networks and provides footage of presidential events to other broadcasters. CNN had previously explained that its pool assignment involved travelling with Trump and supplying footage to ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC.
Alternative Outlet Chosen
For Saturday’s Tennessee trip, reports said conservative outlet Real America’s Voice was listed in place of CNN in the pool. The dispute has already affected coverage of Trump’s activities. ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC previously declined to take CNN’s place in the pool after the administration’s initial ban. This resulted in no major television network travelling with Trump on one of his trips.
The White House has argued that media organisations do not have unrestricted access to every presidential event or location. A White House communications account said earlier that outlets cannot expect access to every part of the White House event.
Judge Orders White House to Restore CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Access
