Major U.S. Broadcasters to Resume Trump Pool Coverage Despite Continuing CNN Ban

Major broadcasters that boycotted pool coverage in protest of U.S. President Donald Trump's press restrictions against CNN plan to resume pool reporting starting September 27, local time, according to the New York Times (NYT).

According to sources familiar with the matter, executives from ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox News, which operate the White House television pool alongside CNN, reached the decision after closed-door discussions over the weekend.

These broadcasters had suspended pool coverage—where news outlets rotate to cover President Trump and share the material with domestic and foreign media—after the president barred CNN, MSNBC (referred to as MS Now in the original text), and Politico from the White House on September 18.

The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia ordered the White House on September 24 to restore the press credentials of the three outlets, ruling that the administration's actions violated the First Amendment, which guarantees freedom of speech.

Even after the court ruling, the White House television pool maintained its stance that it would refuse coverage until the administration officially restored CNN's press access.

Despite the court ruling and pressure from the broadcasters, the White House excluded CNN from coverage aboard Air Force One, the presidential aircraft, on September 26.

However, broadcasting executives reportedly reversed their decision over the weekend, concluding that an indefinite suspension of pool coverage would leave the public uninformed in the event of an emergency or crisis.

The networks plan to decide whether to dispatch alternative reporting teams whenever CNN's turn in the pool rotation comes up.

If they choose not to send a substitute, CNN's slot will be left vacant, meaning President Trump's schedule during that rotation will be excluded from these networks' coverage.

(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.