Major US networks suspend White House press pool coverage

journalismSep 22, 2026742,962

ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC suspended their television press pool duties after the White House barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds. The barred outlets sued the administration on Monday, arguing the restrictions violated their First Amendment rights. With the broadcast networks refusing to supply pool footage, the White House instead promoted its own livestream branded as "Trump TV" to distribute the president’s appearances. At a midday ribbon-cutting for a new White House helipad, the lack of professional pool audio meant the president’s remarks were largely inaudible over a helicopter’s engine. Several major publications, including the Washington Post, the New York Times and the Associated Press, also declined to publish or distribute images from the White House photography pool for a limited period in solidarity. Bryan Boughton, Fox News’s Washington bureau chief and current TV pool chair, said in an email that the TV pool would not cover events designated as pool coverage of the president because CNN had been prevented from fulfilling assigned duties. Print, radio and wire-service pool reporters continue to file accounts of the president’s movements while legal action over the ban proceeds.

Jeff Tiedrich

@jefftiedrich.bsky.social

yesterday, the the major networks served up to Dear Leader a huge slice of Fuck You Pie, and boycotted all White House press events — leaving bottom-feeders like Newsmax to air amateurish silent videos. thank you for your attention to my coverage of this hilarious shit. link is here: bit.ly/4hkOvzV

holy shit.

yesterday, we finally got the answer to that age-old conundrum: if Dear Leader opens his fat yap in the middle of the White House, and there’s no one from the press pool around to report on it, does he make a noise?

the answer, it seems, is a resounding no.

92217d ago

Edwin Roman8

Best sentences: on what planet could an empty podium have been more newsworthy than a major policy speech from the Email Lady? she had been the Secretary of State. he was an idiot with a catchphrase. by giving rock star treatment to a racist game show host, the press normalized that shit

jandee924 🌻🕊️🦋6

I didn't even need the video. We know everything out of his mouth is a lie and I'm over all of it.

Peter Matthews4

I hope they continue. I’d like to never hear him again.

quiller45.bsky.social3

Please continue, not just one day.

Informed Takes3

Dude is running the Viktor Orban playbook and US media doesn't remember who that is. 😂

Yaquinalady 🇺🇸🦅🗽❤️🇺🇦🇨🇿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿❌👑3

“it turns out that silenced-by-the-media Donny is my favorite Donny & that unfamiliar feeling you’re experiencing right now? that’s elation, at the White House press pool, for finally doing the right thing…the…networks working together to do the right thing — shoot that shit straight into my veins.”

PatriotTakes 🇺🇸

@patriottakes.bsky.social

Real America’s Voice, which bragged about being “the only place you’ll see President Trump today” amid the WHCA press pool camera boycott, only got 1,279 views on their YouTube stream.

27618d ago

Laura Young9

I enjoyed NOT seeing his ugly face today.

David Hart4

And the only way he could get any legitimate press was to cuddle up to Mandani.

Middlerage3

🤣 Looks like people don’t miss him at all! 🤣

Mina2

Everyone has turned on the GOP, except for billionaires, and Democratic elites like Newsom and Bonta.

dr alex concorde

@doctoralex.bsky.social

Trump Inaudible at White House Helipad Ribbon Cutting After TV Outlets Boycott Over Media Ban He spoke but could not be heard as tried to boast about the White House’s new Lockheed Martin-funded helipad. No press pool outlet still attending had a decent microphone. people.com/trump-inaudi...

15418d ago

johnnyfreeusa8

This is outstanding news. Even Fox? Wow it's about time a line was established with this narcissistic sociopath. His deception in every aspect of his job is becoming evident and much of the country isn't buying it.

debnicktom.bsky.social6

He should always be inaudible, invisible and indeed gone.

palapala195

Why did "IT"🤬,get away with Immunity? January 6th happened. The rape of women and girls happened. The mafia Con.s🧠 is dying. Stole money from taxpayers, demolished East Wing.pool. The illegal defacement of the Kennedy Center. NO Arch ! The Arlington cemetery: sacred. The 25th Amendment is needed. .

europeanbeaver.bsky.social4

It must be raining ketchup in the #blighthouse

ArtsyGal4

How is THIS real life!? FFS

xorgeo5.bsky.social3

This sounds familiar. Pay attention to what is going on. #fubardon is taking the US down the distrust path. Once trust is lost, you cannot find it.

Justin Baragona

@justinbaragona.bsky.social

The moment the White House press office took control of assigning the press pool slots, it set the stage for where we are at now.

13017d ago

Timothy Burke14

i seem to remember us saying at the time if the WHCA just rolls over for this the White House won't stop there and gosh look what happened

uniquespecimen.bsky.social1

How did giving into this regime work out? Narrator : not good

DavidNelsonNM1

Funny how those cowardly actions just keep rolling on afterwards like thunder.

A.J. Bauer

@ajbauer.bsky.social

Boosting video from Trump TV is scabbing. I support perpetual press pool boycott.

15018d ago

Ella Kelly4

Agree. Zero Tolerance for those who promote Trump TV.

SAVE OUR ELECTIONS2

Me too. Who wants to hear the fucker's lies? Or some blonde bimbo repeating them?

Josh2

I just labeled it as a scam when it showed up in my feed

RoosterTwin2

We all need to take a deep breath, and thank the heavens above for our 3 day respite from this revolting man. Cracks me up. You know this is hard on his delicate psyche.

Airwolf!1

Agreed, but being unable to see or hear him could inadvertently boost his popularity

Power Vibe · by NoMAGA1

The leverage is collective: once reporters normalize the substitute feed, the White House can sideline independent access without paying much of a reputational or informational cost.

emptywheel

@emptywheel.bsky.social

Here's the WH Pool Report explaining that Nauta and Harp came back on a different helicopter (so it may be Margo Martin next to Trump in that photo).

🚁 In town pool report #3 M1 landing

POTUS landed at the Ellipse on Marine One at 7:57 pm. He walked to the motorcade and promptly departed for the White House.

He was not alone on M1 but it wasn't immediately clear who the gentleman was who was seated across from with him. (As captured by the photographers through the window of the aircraft.) Pool has asked for a manifest.

A support copter landed much closer to the press on the Ellipse at 7:52 pm. Walt Nauta and Natalie Harp were among the group that was seen walking off that helo.

Francesca Chambers
USA TODAY
Sat. Sep. 19, 8:03 PM
1:14 AM · Sep 20, 2026
·
62.5K
Views

11018d ago

Olga Nesterova

@onestpress.onestnetwork.com

Press pool: Reiterating that there is no TV pool today. Print reporters will do our best to relay all relevant quotes from sprays that aren't carried on official video feeds. The UN camera feed will carry his speech to the General Assembly. I will pass it on to you here and add to today’s brief.

9517d ago

Dr Argue3

Thanks but I will take a hard pass on his lies.

radiobill3

Not gonna hear Trump's voice for another day?

Kaydee3

The UN has its one cameras/mics, so C-SPAN will be airing it

Kathleen Bachynski

@bachynski.bsky.social

“He was left almost literally shouting into the wind on Monday as he cut the ribbon on his new helipad on the South Lawn… recorded only by a second-tier news broadcaster that could not capture his voice over the roar of Marine One. There was Mr. Trump moving his mouth, and no one could hear him.”

7918d ago

Kathleen Bachynski21

“The fact that the helipad ribbon-cutting would be the first moment when Mr. Trump would pay the price of his decision was especially rich. He has been exceedingly proud of his construction projects &relishes showing them off…Not having the network cameras present for the big unveiling had to sting”

Alex1

I have dreamed of this day

Quoting this

Brigid Alverson17

You love to see it.

Rodger Payne2

Informative thread on blowback consequences of Trump's media bans.

Missing The Point

@missingthept.bsky.social

Breaking: SNL Weekend Update joins White House Press Pool boycott.

7017d ago

H. John Tran

@johnhtran.bsky.social

A huge thank you to Reuters, Fox News, CNN, NPR, The Washington Post, CBS News, Getty Images, Politico, NBC News, HuffPost, AP, PBS News, MS NOW, The New York Times, ABC News and AFP. Pool. Photos. Court. Same line: Press access can’t depend on whether the White House likes the coverage.

5617d ago

Bob Geiger

@bobgeiger.bsky.social

How corrupt is our Supreme Court? Here’s Jonathan Kotler, media law professor at USC, on Trump banning news outlets he dislikes: “I would think that the press is going to win at every level up until the Supreme Court. You just never know with the Supreme Court.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

4217d ago

Press Gazette

@pressgazette.co.uk

Major US broadcasters have suspended press pool broadcast coverage of the White House following a ban imposed on CNN, MS Now and Politico. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

4918d ago

Press Gazette9

Other outlets including The Washington Post, The New York Times, AP, Reuters and Getty announced they will not publish photos from presidential events on Monday, with the images due to be released after midnight Eastern time www.mediaite.com/media/news/w...

Jus 🇮🇪 🇪🇺 🚜 🌲2

Trump silenced.... Natalie did it 🥳

Tom Gingerich2

Am I being told that the major news organizations are finally standing up against Trump‘s fascist dictatorial behavior after all this time of kowtowing to his every selfish narcissistic whim? Please make it be true and ongoing! Now… call him out on every traitorous statement that he makes! END HIM‼️

🖐️ DrAlanT 🎬 📚 📎1

Cancel MSM! 🪓 - THEN Trump tries to bend the news market towards his own Tee Vee pop-up...💲👽 🇺🇸

Jenny Bone1

Even Fox is joining in this.

Quoting this

Kate Bevan18

Good to see the US media showing a bit of spine - hope they keep up the boycott until Trump caves.

💙🇨🇦 𝙈𝙚𝙞𝙙𝙖𝙨 𝙅𝙖𝙧𝙫™️🎹⚖️Ⓜ️🎤🇨🇦🦫🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

@justjarvtm.bsky.social

Trump is likely to ignore the ruling when it goes in CNN’s favour. Then your only option is for no media to cover the Whitehouse, at all. Likely the best option. He loses his mind when there’s no press pool. Solidarity among journalists. Of course some right wing outlets won’t join. No big 5 cameras

4617d ago

Guy Gavriel Kay

@guygavrielkay.bsky.social

I’d be startled if CNN wasn’t allowed back into WH press pool after the courts address it. But THIS, Ellison taking over soon, this is why Trump won’t mind so much. When a government or it’s toadies control the major media outlets, the idea of a free country is in colossal trouble.

4417d ago

ABC News Australia

@news.abc.net.au

Donald Trump gave a speech that went largely unheard. It's part of a war with his press pool

3818d ago

3 sources

theguardian.comUS TV networks suspend White House pool coverage over Trump media ban politico.comMajor TV networks decline White House pool duties nytimes.comTrump Faces the Sting of a Media Boycott After Press Pool Withdrawal (Gift Article)

Trump tells CNN’s Kaitlan Collins 'You shouldn't be here' at UNjournalism Nicky Hager book launch at Unity Books in Wellington tonightjournalism Major US networks suspend White House press pool coveragejournalism

Major US networks suspend White House press pool coverage

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