CNN reporters will no longer accompany US President Donald Trump on his planned trip to Tennessee on Saturday, in what appears to be another restriction on the network’s access to the White House.
The development comes days after the White House moved to exclude CNN, MS NOW and Politico from its premises, accusing the outlets of maintaining an overwhelmingly negative approach to coverage of Trump.
A judge later directed the administration to restore the organisations’ access temporarily, ruling that the president’s decision was likely to violate constitutional protections.
CNN was originally expected to take part in Saturday’s presidential travel press pool as the designated television network. The rotating pool system allows selected journalists to travel with the president and share their reports with other media organisations because of limited space.
But the White House itinerary issued on Friday evening contained no reference to CNN or any of the television networks normally assigned to the TV pool.
Instead, the schedule named Lindell TV as the “Secondary TV” correspondent and crew. The outlet is operated by businessman Mike Lindell, a prominent Trump supporter and ally.
The latest development follows a joint decision earlier in the week by ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC to suspend their participation in White House pool coverage while CNN’s access remained restricted.
“The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organisation because it objects to its reporting,” ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC said.
CNN declined to comment when contacted by AFP on Friday, while the White House also did not respond to a request for comment.
AFP
