Major US television networks have suspended their participation in a rotation of broadcasters covering President Donald Trump, as three leading news organisations went to court over being barred from the White House.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico on Monday filed suit after Trump ordered them last week to be barred from the presidential complex.
Shortly afterwards, ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC and CNN said they were halting “pool” coverage of the White House in solidarity with CNN.
CNN had been scheduled to serve as the White House television pool broadcaster on Monday, a rotating assignment in which one broadcaster provides footage on behalf of other television outlets.
TV coverage in UN General Assembly
The decision means there will be no pooled television coverage of Trump’s trip to New York for the UN General Assembly on Monday, where he is due to meet a series of world leaders.
The White House has defended its decision to restrict access to the news organisations.
Trump said the White House was not attacking the free press, but did not indicate that the restrictions would be lifted.
"The White House is not instituting an assault on the Free Press, something which I cherish," Trump said on his Truth Social network.
"It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America."
