White House Excludes CNN from Air Force One Coverage, Blocks TV Network

The White House has prohibited CNN from accompanying President Donald Trump on Air Force One for his upcoming trip to Tennessee this Saturday, as part of the TV pool network.

A spokesperson from CNN confirmed that the network was removed from the list of scheduled networks tasked with covering the President’s visit. Due to limited space, a pooled system is often used for covering the President, wherein footage, photos, audio, and written reports are collected and distributed amongst a broader array of media outlets.

Last week, President Trump prohibited CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from entering the White House premises, which led to a legal challenge. A federal judge reinstated their credentials on Thursday, stating that the ban was a breach of due process rights.

Despite the reinstatement, the White House, on Sunday following the President’s issuance of the ban, excluded CNN from the TV pool rotation. The other major networks in the rotation—CBS, NBC, ABC, and Fox—refused to step in for CNN, leading to a significant reduction in coverage and a lack of video footage from the White House throughout most of the week. This act of solidarity was intended as a protest against the administration’s decision.

TV pool coverage resumed earlier on Friday after CNN’s credentials were restored, but the network faces another blockade.