CNN has been excluded from the press group travelling with US President Donald Trump on his Saturday trip to Tennessee, in the latest development in the ongoing dispute between the White House and the news network.
CNN was scheduled to serve as the television network in the rotating press pool covering the presidential trip. However, a White House schedule released on Friday did not include CNN or any of the other television networks normally assigned to the pool.
Instead, the schedule listed Lindell TV as the “Secondary TV” correspondent and crew. The network is operated by businessman Mike Lindell, a close Trump ally and supporter.
The presidential press pool consists of journalists from different media organisations who take turns travelling with the president and sharing coverage with other outlets because space on presidential trips is limited.
The exclusion follows the White House’s recent decision to restrict access for CNN, MS NOW and Politico, with Trump accusing the outlets of producing negative coverage of his administration.
A judge later ordered the temporary restoration of their access, ruling that the restrictions were likely unconstitutional.
The dispute also prompted the major US television networks – ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and NBC to temporarily suspend their participation in White House pool coverage.
The broadcasters said the public has a right to receive independent and accurate information about the government and argued that media organisations should not be denied access because of their reporting.
CNN declined to comment on its exclusion from Trump’s Tennessee trip when contacted by AFP, while the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
