The five major television networks that rotate White House TV pool coverage said Monday they will not cover events designated as pool coverage of the president.
Fox News Washington Bureau Chief Bryan Boughton told pool subscribers the decision takes effect immediately and that no replacement pool will be put in place.
The move follows the White House blocking CNN from its assigned pool shift. The TV pool is ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC, and Fox News. It provides shared video when space is too tight for every outlet to send its own crew. CNN was scheduled for Monday. A White House daily guidance email Sunday night listed no TV pool at all.
President Trump announced Friday he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO from the White House, accusing them of reporting “FAKE NEWS.” He also said other outlets, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, could be next.
The networks said in a joint statement that the public has a vital interest in independent information about the government and that no administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.
