Fox News makes stunning move against Trump. Here’s what to know

National PoliticsThe lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW and Politico against the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is photographed Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)AP Photo/Jon ElswickFox News is receiving both praise and condemnation after it joined four other major networks in suspending their shared coverage of President Donald Trump.Five networks — Fox News, ABC, CBS, CNN and NBC — are pulling out of their pool duties after the president announced Friday he would bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds, describing them as “fake news.”Reporters from the targeted outlets said they were already denied entry into the White House complex on Saturday. The Secret Service has also confiscated their credentials, the media organizations noted.“Effective today, the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President,” Fox News Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton wrote in a note to TV pool members.CNN was scheduled to cover Trump as the designated TV pooler on Monday, when he will visit New York City for the United Nations General Assembly. It was difficult to hear the president speak during a ribbon-cutting ceremony ahead of his departure.Fox News has been met with mixed reactions on social media over its decision to stand alongside the other networks in solidarity.Roger Stone, Trump’s longtime confidant, wrote in a critical post on X that the network, favored by the president, has shown “their true colors.”“Not fair and balanced.-Globalist Deep Staters,” Stone said.One user associated with MAGA said that Fox News “wants everyone to know they stand with fake news CNN.”“Never forget it,” they continued. “They are now one and the same.”Another user called the organization “pathetic.”Others expressed surprise that Fox News was in on the effort.“That s--- says FOX news ??” a user asked.Amanda Carpenter, who works for Protect Democracy, added: “Fox is doing the right thing. This is great.”Host Piers Morgan gave “kudos” to the network for “leading the way on this to help their competitors.”Escalations continued Monday as CNN, MS NOW and Politico sued Trump and three top advisers — chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and Secret Service Director Sean Curran — in a move they said is necessary to “protect our First Amendment rights and defend the principle that the government does not decide what the press reports or publishes.”“Left unchallenged, this threatens press freedom and the public’s right to independent journalism free from government interference,” they said in a joint statement announcing the lawsuit.They are being represented by Theodore Boutrous Jr. of law firm Gibson Dunn. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by Trump, will oversee the case. The organizations have asked Kelly to quickly declare the president’s ban unconstitutional and restore White House access.Trump defended his decision on Monday, rejecting the assertion that the White House is “instituting an assault on the Free Press.” In a social media post, he called it “something which I cherish.”“It is instituting an assault on the FAKE NEWS, something that has grown like Cancer in our beloved United States of America,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “It is corrupt, purposeful, pervasive, fully coordinated, and totally out of control. It is a threat to our National Security, and must be stopped, NOW!”Rachel Cohen covers national politics as a reporter for Advance Local, focusing on President Donald Trump's second term and Congress. She previously worked as a trending political reporter for NJ.com. Her work...