Trump vs media: What is the White House press pool and why has it halted coverage of U.S. President?

Left to Right: CNN reporter holds an empty credential folder following the ban, Donald Trump’s file photo. | Photo Credit: AP, Reuters Top five U.S. broadcasters, namely ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC, stopped their “pool” coverage of the White House and U.S. President Donald Trump on September 21, 2026. In a statement, the five media organisations that make up the White House press pool said that “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”.What is the White House press pool? The White House press pool is the term given to a group of news organisations that travel with and cover the U.S. President, every day, providing a constant stream of information. The five networks that make up the White House television pool are ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News and NBC News. They function on a rotating basis and provide a daily video feed to other news outlets and the public in general. The pool is also essential to journalists who do not have the resources or access to be physically present to cover the U.S. President.Why have they stopped coverage of Donald Trump? The U.S. President recently banned three leading outlets, including CNN, from the White House. The news pool in solidarity with CNN, which was to cover the President on September 21, as part of the rotational arrangement, have halted all coverage of Trump and his office. None of the media outlets covered the launch of a new White House helipad by Mr. Trump.The White House press pool halting the coverage of the U.S. President is being seen as a rare case of solidarity.Story so far:On September 18, President Trump barred CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House grounds. In a Truth Social post, Mr. Trump said that he is banning the three news organisations “as a result of their constant reporting FAKE NEWS!” He added that “Media outlets shouldn’t be able to constantly write or report FICTION and LIES when they’re covering the President of the United States, the Trump administration, or United States of America.”Politico, MS NOW and CNN have now gone to the court and filed a First Amendment lawsuit, which deals with violations of constitutional rights, including the freedom of the press. The White House, on September 22, launched its own streaming platform Trump TV. In a post on X, it announced: “TRUMP TV IS STREAMING NOW. 24/7, updated in real time, with top past moments, announcements, and the latest and greatest from the administration all in one place. Not every big moment has made it on your TV, now it can.” IT'S LIVE. 📺🦅TRUMP TV IS STREAMING NOW. 24/7, updated in real time, with top past moments, announcements, and the latest and greatest from the administration all in one place. Not every big moment has made it on your tv, now it can. 📲 https://t.co/3KwWkBZ69mpic.twitter.com/g4v7n2J04s— The White House (@WhiteHouse) September 21, 2026 Mr. Trump later also slammed the news outlets going to court. He said, in a Truth Social post, “We’ll go for appeal because Fake News people and publications that only write negatively, and who violate our National Security by writing false and defamatory stories with unknown “sources,” shouldn’t be allowed access to the most important Office anywhere in the World,” in a lengthy post that also slammed the judge of the case, Tim Kelly. Published - September 22, 2026 12:00 pm IST