White House Removes CNN From Trump Press Pool

CNN reporters have been barred from travelling with US President Donald Trump on Saturday after the White House removed the network from the press pool for his trip to Tennessee.

The move comes days after a US judge temporarily restored CNN’s access to the White House after the administration had blocked journalists from the network and two other outlets.

Trump last week sought to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, accusing the outlets of providing negative coverage of his administration.

Journalists from the three organisations were later blocked from entering the White House complex.

A judge ordered their access to be restored temporarily, saying Trump’s move was likely unconstitutional.

CNN had been scheduled to provide television coverage for Trump’s trip to Tennessee on Saturday as part of the White House press pool.

However, a schedule released by the White House on Friday evening did not include CNN or any of the television networks normally taking part in the pool rotation.

The press pool is a rotating group of journalists who travel with the President and share their coverage with other news organisations because space on presidential trips is limited.

Instead, the White House listed Lindell TV as the “Secondary TV” correspondent and crew.

Lindell TV is a strongly pro-Trump outlet run by businessman Mike Lindell, a close ally of the President.

Earlier this week, while CNN’s White House access remained suspended, the five major US television networks — ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC — took the unusual step of stopping their participation in the White House press pool in solidarity with CNN.

“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting,” the networks said in a joint statement.

CNN declined to comment when contacted by AFP on Friday.

The White House also did not respond to a request for comment.