Trump Says 'I Cherish Free Press' as ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN and NBC Halt White House Coverage

Five major US television networks suspended presidential pool coverage on Monday, leaving the White House without the usual rotating television pool coverage for Trump's events.

The move came after the Trump administration barred reporters from CNN, MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) and Politico from the White House, with all three outlets filing a joint lawsuit against the administration on Monday morning.

The five networks, ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News and CNN, make up the White House television pool, a longstanding arrangement in which the networks rotate responsibility for covering presidential events and share footage.

CNN was scheduled to lead pool duties on Monday, including travelling with Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. When it was prevented from doing so, the four remaining networks declined to replace it, suspending presidential pool coverage.

'Fake News Like Cancer'

Trump posted on Truth Social on Monday to address the dispute, drawing a distinction between what he termed the free press and what he called fake news.

'The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish,' he wrote. 'It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America.

It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!'

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, when he announced the ban, Trump said the decision followed what he described as cumulative coverage over the previous two years.

'There's something wrong with a country that can allow people to write purposefully negative things,' he said. 'Now, if they want to write them, that's fine, but I don't have to let them into my — into the people's house.'

First Amendment Lawsuit Filed

CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed a joint lawsuit on Monday morning, with Theodore J. Boutrous Jr. of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher representing the outlets.

The complaint argues that the ban is a direct assault on the First Amendment and alleges that it also violates the Fifth Amendment's due-process protections. The outlets are seeking a temporary restraining order to block the ban and restore their White House access.

In a joint statement, the three organisations said the White House had revoked credentials 'without notice or process' because it 'objected to our reporting'. 'Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public's right to independent journalism free from government interference,' they said.

The outlets said they were seeking emergency relief, while the White House and Justice Department had not immediately responded to requests for comment.

Networks Refuse To Fill the Gap

NPR editor-in-chief Tommy Evans was among the news executives to condemn the ban, saying, 'Barring journalists from the White House because the president dislikes their reporting is a blatant violation of the First Amendment.'

Reporters from CNN, MS NOW and Politico were subsequently denied access to the White House grounds after their press credentials were confiscated or disabled.

The lawsuit also draws on a history of disputes over White House press access.

During Trump's first term, CNN correspondent Jim Acosta's press credentials were suspended before a federal judge ordered the White House to temporarily restore his access following legal action.

The White House later fully restored his press pass, after which CNN dropped its lawsuit.

Trump also warned on Friday that other 'Fake News Media Outlets' could face similar restrictions. The current lawsuit now places the administration's ban before a federal court, where the outlets' constitutional claims will be considered.