5 major networks walk back White House boycott after CNN access restored
WASHINGTON, DC: The White House television pool resumed regular coverage Friday, September 25, after a weeklong standoff triggered by President Donald Trump’s decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House.
The return came as Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping during his state visit, restoring a shared television feed used by major US broadcasters.
How the White House televison pool works
The television pool is built around five major networks: ABC News, CBS News, CNN, Fox News and NBC News, which rotate responsibility for recording and distributing footage of presidential events.
The arrangement allows broadcasters and other news organizations to use a common feed when multiple camera crews cannot independently cover the same event.
The system was disrupted on September 21 after the White House prevented CNN from carrying out its scheduled pool duties.
ABC, CBS, Fox News and NBC joined CNN in suspending pooled television coverage rather than replacing the network in the rotation.
The decision meant major presidential events could proceed without the usual shared broadcast camera operation.
Court order changes access dispute
The dispute followed Trump’s September 18 ban on CNN, MS NOW and Politico from White House grounds.
The outlets challenged the restrictions in federal court, arguing that the administration had violated constitutional protections by targeting them over their reporting.
On September 24, US District Judge Timothy Kelly issued a temporary restraining order requiring the White House to immediately restore the three organizations’ access for 14 days.
Reporters were initially turned away despite the ruling before access was restored later that day.
CNN, MS NOW and Politico had been scheduled to cover events surrounding Xi’s visit, making the timing particularly significant.
CNN journalists reported that the television pool had no network camera for Xi’s arrival at the White House while the access dispute remained unresolved.
Xi Jinping's visit brings television coverage back
The dispute unfolded as Xi’s state visit brought a series of high-profile presidential events to Washington.
On Friday, CBS provided footage from the White House showing Trump welcoming Xi and footage involving the two leaders and their wives.
CNN also carried the feed after its White House access was restored.
CNN anchor Pamela Brown said the network’s access had returned and that the television pool appeared to be operating normally.
A functioning pool allows multiple broadcasters to use shared footage without each sending separate crews, making the system particularly important when presidential activity involves restricted space or simultaneous events.
The legal fight over the administration’s media-access policy remains ongoing, while Friday’s resumption restored the shared television operation during Trump’s high-profile engagement with Xi.
