The White House is set to bar CNN from serving as the television pool for President Trump's scheduled trip to Texas and Oklahoma on Thursday, according to a source familiar with the matter. The move comes despite a federal judge's ruling last week that lifted a broader ban on the network, and it signals a continued escalation in the administration's battle with the press.
The source confirmed that no pool camera will accompany the president during his travel, effectively stripping CNN of its rotation duty. The White House had not responded to requests for comment at press time, and CNN was notably absent from the list of outlets designated to cover the president in guidance distributed to media Wednesday evening.
This week's episode is the latest in a series of confrontations between the Trump administration and CNN, which is owned by Warner Brothers Discovery. Two weeks ago, Trump barred reporters from CNN, MS Now, and Politico from the White House, citing what he called "fake news" that he claimed endangered national security.
The initial ban drew widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates, the White House Correspondents' Association, and prompted a temporary boycott by the major television networks—CNN, Fox News, ABC, NBC, and CBS—that rotate pool duties. The networks withheld coverage for days in solidarity with CNN.
In response, the three outlets filed a lawsuit last week, arguing that the administration violated their due process rights and restricted access because of unfavorable coverage. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, ruled in their favor and ordered the White House to restore access, which it did late last week.
However, tensions reignited over the weekend when Trump traveled to Tennessee for a college football game on a day CNN was scheduled to serve as the designated TV pool outlet. CNN journalists were barred from joining the press corps on Air Force One, prompting the network to file a fresh motion with the court on Tuesday.
In the filing, CNN's attorney argued that "the White House's words and actions leave little doubt that it will immediately reinstitute a complete ban of CNN, MS NOW, and POLITICO if allowed the opportunity." The network also contended that the administration is issuing access "unpredictably and inconsistently," causing irreparable harm.
The original lawsuit alleges viewpoint discrimination, a violation of the First Amendment. The administration is required to respond to the latest filing by Friday, setting the stage for another legal showdown.
This ongoing dispute mirrors broader tensions over press access, as seen in media coalition efforts to block renewed bans and legislative battles over presidential actions. The outcome of this case could have lasting implications for how the White House interacts with the press.
