Trump had previously barred three US media organizations — CNN, MS NOW, and Politico — from the White House.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Days after a US federal judge temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House, CNN reporters have been excluded from traveling with the US President on Saturday.
The latest development was confirmed after a White House schedule released late Friday left out the network, despite it having been scheduled to cover the presidential trip to Tennessee.
Prior to this, Trump had barred three US media organizations — CNN, MS NOW, and Politico — from the White House, accusing them of producing overwhelmingly negative coverage of his administration.
The journalists were subsequently prevented from entering the White House complex.
ALSO READ: Trump says he is banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House
However, in a show of solidarity with CNN, five major US broadcast networks suspended their pool coverage of the White House while the network’s access remained restricted.
“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting,” ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox, and NBC said in a joint statement.
Following a court challenge, a judge ordered their 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, despite CNN having been scheduled to serve as the television network in the press pool accompanying the president to Tennessee.
The presidential press pool consists of journalists from various media organizations who rotate coverage of the president and share their reports with other outlets due to limited space during official travel.
Instead, the White House schedule listed Lindell TV as the “Secondary TV” correspondent and crew. The outlet is run by businessman Mike Lindell, a close ally and staunch supporter of the US president.
