CNN reporters were prevented from accompanying US President Donald Trump on Saturday as originally planned, marking a fresh White House effort to restrict the network’s access.
Last week, the president attempted to ban three US outlets CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, claiming they offered only negative coverage of him.
Following the blocking of journalists from these three outlets from the White House complex, a judge ordered their access to be temporarily reinstated, noting that Trump’s action was probably unconstitutional.
For Trump’s Saturday trip to Tennessee, CNN had been set to serve as the TV network in the press “pool” travelling alongside him.
Yet a schedule issued by the White House on Friday evening included neither CNN nor any of the TV networks in the TV pool rotation.
The pool is a rotating group of journalists who travel with the president and share coverage with other outlets because space is limited.
The White House schedule listed only a “Secondary TV” correspondent and crew: Lindell TV—a firmly pro-Trump outlet operated by his close ally, businessman Mike Lindell.
Earlier this week, while CNN’s White House access remained revoked, the top five US broadcasters took the rare step of jointly halting pool coverage of the White House in solidarity.
“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,” ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, and NBC said.
CNN chose not to comment when contacted Friday by AFP. The White House gave no response to a request for comment.
