Major US networks suspend White House press pool coverage

journalismSep 22, 202633932

ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC suspended their television press pool duties after the White House barred CNN, MS Now and Politico from entering White House grounds. The barred outlets sued the administration on Monday, saying the bans violated their First Amendment rights. With no network cameras at a midday helipad ribbon-cutting, the White House streamed a branded channel called "Trump TV," but the president’s remarks were largely inaudible over helicopter noise. Fox News Washington bureau chief and current TV pool chair Bryan Boughton emailed pool members that the TV pool would not cover events designated as pool coverage of the president. The Washington Post, the New York Times and the Associated Press said they would not publish or distribute images from the White House photography pool until midnight Eastern in solidarity with the barred outlets. The five networks, including CNN, issued a joint statement saying the public needs accurate independent information and that no administration should restrict a news organization for its reporting.

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.

25611h 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.

A.J. Bauer

@ajbauer.bsky.social

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

1209h ago

Ella Kelly2

Agree. Zero Tolerance for those who promote Trump TV.

SAVE OUR ELECTIONS1

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

Josh1

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

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.

RoosterTwin1

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.

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...

866h ago

johnnyfreeusa5

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.social2

He should always be inaudible, invisible and indeed gone.

palapala192

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. .

ArtsyGal1

How is THIS real life!? FFS

ArtsyGal1

Looks like the wax museum version

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.”

769h ago

Kathleen Bachynski20

“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 Alverson14

You love to see it.

Rodger Payne2

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

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

604h ago

Justin Baragona

@justinbaragona.bsky.social

The White House has released its press guidance for tomorrow. With the other networks standing in solidarity with CNN, there is to TV press pool assigned for either in town or out of town coverage.

507h ago

Eric Columbus3

Who else was in that pool? Was Fox in it?

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

367h ago

RachelMarta

@rachel99marta.bsky.social

The entire presidential television press pool has agreed to suspend their coverage in the wake of President Trump’s decision to ban CNN, Politico, & MS NOW from the White House. The 5 networks released a statement: The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate newrepublic.com/post/215641/...

359h ago

RachelMarta1

The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government,” it read. “No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting.” newrepublic.com/post/215641/...

Stardust 🌏🎬

@stardustbluepr.com

"And for the first time in modern press coverage, there is not a TV camera traveling with the president today. We are already seeing the consequences of these actions, though, Amna. The White House had their own camera that was set up today for this ribbon-cutting ceremony."

257h ago

Johnathan Perkins, Esq.

@johnathanperk.bsky.social

This White House press pool boycott will backfire. Why? It will make setting up State TV (e.g., Russia, China) much easier. MAGA will use this boycott as a convenient opening to install State TV and will use U.S. Agency for Global Media to do it. The Media chapter of Project 2025 is clear on this.

8

MEDIA AGENCIES

U.S. AGENCY FOR GLOBAL MEDIA
Mora Namdar

MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) is to inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democ-racy. However, this mission statement does not reflect the current work of the agency. The mission is noble, but the execution is lacking. To fulfill its mission, USAGM should also aim to present the truth about America and American policy-not parrot America's adversaries' propaganda and talking points.?

OVERVIEW
Originally formed as the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) in 1994, the BBG changed its name in 2018 to the United States Agency for Global Media. The USAGM is a sub-Cabinet agency of the U.S. government with a budget of just under $1 billion. The agency oversees two government broadcasting networks: the Voice of America (VOA) and the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). USAGM also oversees 100 percent of the grant funding for several "independent" grantee organizations, including the Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN), Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and the newly formed Open Technology Fund (OTF).

• The Voice of America provides news and information in 48 languages to a weekly audience of more than 326 million people worldwide. For more

- 235 -

1110h ago

Quoting this

Johnathan Perkins, Esq.7

State TV, coming soon. 🇺🇸

Newsweek

@newsweek.com

Donald Trump's speech was barely audible after major networks withdrew from the White House press pool in protest over the ban.

183h ago

VigoMOG 1

About time they grew a pair. But I bet Fox Newssometimes will be the first to break ranks

Sarah1

That’s still more than I want to hear from him

Mike Bailey

@linusd.bsky.social

Chopper noise cuts Trump as he snips ribbon. The White House press pool removes TV coverage of the flailing president in defence of first amendment free speech. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

165h ago