Major television networks ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC suspended their joint pool coverage of President Donald Trump on Monday, September 21, 2026. The move followed the administration's decision to bar CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from White House access. CNN was the designated TV pool provider for the day, but its team was unable to fulfill those duties due to the ban.
The suspension originated from a rotating system established during the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration to ensure the president is always covered by a small group of journalists, even in limited spaces like Air Force One. CNN was the scheduled provider for Monday's travel to New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. In a joint statement, the five networks asserted that the public has a vital interest in independent information and stated that no administration should reject an organization based on its reporting.
On Friday, September 18, President Trump announced he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, citing what he characterized as "fake news" and negative coverage. On Saturday, reporters from these outlets were turned away from the White House. In response, the three organizations filed a lawsuit on Monday alleging the ban is an unconstitutional assault on the First Amendment.
This suspension affects the primary way the American public receives video footage and reporting of the president's daily activities, as the five major networks—ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, and NBC—provide the baseline video feed for other news organizations. Without the TV pool, there is no designated team of network journalists traveling with the president to document his actions or respond to unexpected breaking news. This interruption impacts the scheduled coverage of the president's visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Monday and Tuesday.
While separate pool systems for print and radio remain, and pool coverage continues for other officials like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the absence of a TV pool represents a break in a decades-old logistics arrangement. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) stated that courts have historically held that the government cannot deny press access arbitrarily or based on the content of reporting.
CNN, MS NOW, and Politico filed their lawsuit on Monday, September 21, seeking to have their access restored. The networks have not yet specified a date for resuming pool coverage of the president. For the immediate future, events designated as pool coverage of the president will not have a replacement team in place, according to TV pool chair Bryan Boughton.