The White House has barred CNN from covering US President Donald Trump's trip to Tennessee on Saturday, despite the network being scheduled to cover the presidential trip. This development is the latest restriction on CNN's access to the White House, which began last week when Trump moved to bar three US media organisations, including CNN, from the White House. The journalists were subsequently prevented from entering the White House complex.
A judge had ordered the media organisations' access to be temporarily restored, ruling that Trump's action was likely unconstitutional. However, the White House schedule released late Friday did not include CNN or any of the other television networks listed in the regular TV pool rotation. Instead, the schedule listed Lindell TV as the "Secondary TV" correspondent and crew. Lindell TV is run by businessman Mike Lindell, a close ally of Trump and a staunch supporter of the US president.
The presidential press pool consists of journalists from different media organisations who rotate coverage of the president and share their reports with other outlets due to limited space during official travel. The exclusion of CNN from the trip has sparked widespread criticism, with the network being a vocal critic of Trump's administration. The development has also raised concerns about the Trump administration's relationship with the media.
The five major US broadcast networks - ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, and NBC - had earlier made a rare joint decision to suspend their pool coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN while the network's access remained restricted. The networks released a joint statement saying that the public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government.
The joint statement also said that no administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting. The statement highlighted the importance of a free press in a democratic society and the need for the government to be transparent in its actions. The suspension of pool coverage was seen as a show of support for CNN and a rebuke to the Trump administration's media policies.
Trump's decision to bar certain media organisations from the White House has been seen as a continuation of his administration's contentious relationship with the media. The administration has been critical of what it perceives as negative coverage from certain media outlets, and has taken steps to limit their access to the White House. The move has sparked concerns about press freedom and the ability of the media to hold the government accountable.
The exclusion of CNN from Trump's trip to Tennessee has sparked widespread criticism from media organisations and advocacy groups, who see it as an attempt to silence critical voices. The development has also raised questions about the Trump administration's commitment to transparency and accountability. The incident has highlighted the ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and the media.
Key points
- The White House has barred CNN from covering Trump's trip to Tennessee amid media access restrictions.
- The exclusion of CNN has sparked widespread criticism from media organisations and advocacy groups.
- The Trump administration's media policies have been seen as an attempt to limit critical coverage.
