The television press pool covering the White House's daily events will halt coverage in protest of President Donald Trump's decision to bar CNN from participating. Bryan Boughton, who runs the Fox News Washington bureau and serves as the current TV pool chair, announced the decision in an email.
"This is to advise that, effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President," the email stated. "This follows the White House’s position preventing CNN from fulfilling its assigned pool duties. There will be no replacement pool put in place."
CNN had been scheduled for TV pool duties this week, a rotation that typically includes ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News. All five networks issued a joint statement condemning the ban.
"The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting," the statement read.
CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter suggested that the other networks are banding together because they believe they could be targeted next. "I’ve been hearing from top editors and newsroom leaders all across the U.S. who believe this is an important moment to draw a line and stand firm," he said.
Trump's administration had previously revoked press access for CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, citing objections to their reporting, which the President characterized as "FICTION and LIES." In response, these three outlets filed a lawsuit on Monday, asserting their intention to "protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes."
"Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference," the outlets stated regarding the lawsuit.